UK Asbestos Issue Reportedly Underestimated

2009-07-21 03:52:33 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Mesothelioma Asbestos, News)

The threat of asbestos contamination in the UK is said to be more serious than is known.

Mesothelioma Cancer News (UK) – As officials in the UK prepare to reveal their decision on whether to reverse a judgment that disallows individuals suffering from pleural plaques to take legal action over their condition, researchers warn that the threat of illness caused by asbestos fibers has been underestimated. As reported by the Guardian.co.uk, up to 90,000 people annually may develop pleural plaques after being exposed to the toxic fibers, and are at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

As noted in the report, a report by a group of London researchers of public health suggests that over half of work related cancer deaths in the UK from six cancer types can be attributed to asbestos exposure. The team is quoted as writing in a paper published in Occupational Environmental magazine, “Estimates for all six cancers [in terms of the number of occupation-related deaths] but leukemia, are greater than those currently used in UK health and safety strategy planning.” Dr. Lesley Rushton is further quoted as stating of the issue, “You spend a third of your life at work. You need to take the risks very seriously. One of the problems is that many people don’t realize when they are exposed to asbestos.”

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