Asbestos
25 years since the banning of asbestos
2024 marks 25 years since the UK banned the use of asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral that has been mined for hundreds of years and was used due to its fireproof qualities. There are three common types of asbestos which are:
- White (chrysotile).
- Brown (amosite).
- Blue (crocidolite).
Asbestos was used so prevalently that it was even featured in the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.
The dangers of asbestos and the detrimental effect it can have started to become known in the early 1900’s as people began developing symptoms that we now know can be symptoms of mesothelioma.
The symptoms include:
- Breathlessness
- Persistent cough
- Chest pain
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Banning asbestos
The UK banned asbestos on August 24, 1999, one month after the European Union (EU) banned white asbestos (chrysotile). The Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999, came into force on November 24, 1999, five years ahead of the European deadline. The ban made it illegal to buy, sell, import or export any asbestos containing materials.
However, since the ban came into effect, more than 85,000 people in the UK have died from mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases. The reason for the continued number of cases is because it can be decades after exposure before symptoms appear.
Question the cough
In a survey we conducted, we found that 98% of people do not know that it will take more than 10 years for mesothelioma symptoms to arise following exposure to asbestos. It’s apparent that most people therefore assume their symptoms are unrelated and sometimes think nothing of them.
Because of this, we are encouraging people to take symptoms seriously and ‘#questionthecough.’ A cough is one of the most common symptoms across the many types of asbestos related diseases and we hope this will encourage those who may have one or more symptoms to discuss them with a doctor, which could potentially lead to an early diagnosis. With an earlier diagnosis, there are more options available to you from medical professionals.
We are here to help
If you or a loved one has been affected by mesothelioma or another asbestos related illness, our specialist asbestos and mesothelioma team are here to help.
For more information or to speak to someone about making a claim for compensation for an asbestos-related disease, contact us online.
