There is no room for complacency when it comes to handling asbestos as the latest figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show. Despite being banned in the use of new buildings since 1999, the building material, which was hugely popular in the 1950s and 1960s, is still a huge problem in older … Read more
If you’ve heard of asbestos, chances are you’ve almost certainly heard of mesothelioma. But do you really know what it is and would you know how to protect yourself, your colleagues, and your loved ones from developing this silent killer in the future? What is mesothelioma? According to charity campaign ActionMeso which is run by … Read more
The carcinogenic nature of asbestos, and the fact it was once a mainstay material used extensively in industry, means asbestos poisoning is still a threat to health even though the substance was banned in the UK in 1999. Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that in 2016, 2,595 people died from … Read more
Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases typically affect older people who were exposed to the substance at work, often decades before their symptoms appear. This occupational setting has certainly been to blame for the majority of cases, but instances of mesothelioma in younger people are also causing increasing concern. Secondary exposure to asbestos via a parent … Read more
Asbestos diseases don’t generally show themselves until several decades after the initial exposure, which is why we’ve seen a significant rise in the number of deaths from asbestos-related disease over the last 50 years. If you’re worried that your health may have been compromised by historic asbestos exposure, or you currently work with the substance … Read more
The use of asbestos was so widespread between the 1930s and the 1980s that workers in many industries were at risk of suffering severe ill health. Secondary asbestos exposure was also a significant threat for their wives and families. With little in the way of protective equipment or clothing, asbestos fibres and dust were carried … Read more
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer commonly associated with exposure to asbestos. It typically starts in the layers of tissue that cover the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), although it occasionally begins in the tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) surrounding the digestive system organs and in the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Diagnosis of asbestos … Read more
Did you know? According to the latest asbestos disease figures released by HSE, 12,000 lung disease deaths each year are linked to past exposures at work! 40% of lung disease-related deaths have been contributed to past exposure to asbestos. This is proof again that asbestos exposure is still the single largest industrial killer in the UK. The lastest mesothelioma figures … Read more
Asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural thickening are not easy to diagnose. The symptoms – such as breathlessness, persistent cough, chest pains, tiredness and weight loss – are associated with a great many other lung diseases and general illnesses. Developing an asbestos-related disease It takes between 10 and 50 years to … Read more
On the morning of the 20th November 2015, BBC Breakfast News published the story of Trevor Barlow a 71 year old gentleman who had been diagnosed with terminal illness due to exposure to asbestos. The interview has encouraged others to consider the effects of exposure to asbestos and highlights the current government plans to assist … Read more