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 the UK Mesothelioma Alliance, mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It commonly develops in the pleural lining around the lungs and in the abdomen following exposure to asbestos fibres and can affect people of all ages.
While the use of asbestos in buildings was banned more than 20 years ago, it is still a ticking timebomb, as many older buildings, including more than 75% of schools, contain asbestos which was commonly used as a cheap, durable building material during the 19th century and beyond.
As a result, the statistics surrounding mesothelioma make for harrowing reading.
How many people does mesothelioma affect?
Despite still being considered a rare disease, each year in the UK 2,600 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, which can, in some cases, take up to 70 years to develop.
According to Cancer Research UK, there are 2,400 deaths in the UK from the disease every year – that’s more than six every day.
But perhaps most shockingly of all, 94% of those deaths could have been prevented*.
At Acorn Analytical Services, we are determined to raise awareness of the dangers surrounding asbestos and mesothelioma, drive down these horrifying statistics and help to prevent so many unnecessary deaths. We also want to make sure individuals and businesses have all the information and support they need to manage or remove their asbestos.
We take our responsibilities around education very seriously and work alongside leading national charities including ActionMeso and Mesothelioma UK to raise awareness of this devastating disease. We also work hard to educate business owners, staff and individuals through our Asbestos Knowledge Empire podcast, regular blogs like this one, and our best-selling book, Asbestos: The Dark Arts.
But most importantly of all, we offer practical solutions to help businesses tackle the lingering threat of asbestos head on.
The Acorn Antidote is the only fully systemised and documented asbestos management process available in the UK. Working with one of Acorn’s expert asbestos consultants, we can take you through the five steps which ensure you will comply fully with all the latest rules and regulations around asbestos management. We also offer a handy guide, The Acorn Antidote – The Official Guide Book, which will help you learn more about the processes involved and take those first important steps with confidence.
If you’ve already had a survey and know that asbestos is present in your building, we recommend that you plan this in as part of your scheduled work or refurbishment, keeping any disruption to an absolute minimum.
We understand that dealing with asbestos is a difficult and emotive subject, but with asbestos and the threat of mesothelioma, ignoring the problem just isn’t an option. With Acorn Analytical Services we can reassure you that you are not alone – our friendly team of asbestos experts is here to help every step of the way. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help.
Acorn is a professional asbestos consultancy helping organisations deal with asbestos compliance using asbestos surveys, asbestos air testing, and asbestos removal management.
Please call one of the team, or use the online form to obtain your free quotation. If you would like further information or advice on asbestos and asbestos training, contact the team on 0844 818 0895 or Contact Us
