Asbestos in schools has been the topic of longstanding debate between campaigners who want it removed completely, and others including government ministers, who insist it is safe to be left if intact. Unfortunately for tradespeople and school maintenance workers, it is unlikely that schools built prior to the asbestos ban of 1999 will be free […]
Monthly Archives: November 2016
Illegal dumping of asbestos and toxic waste is “Italy’s Chernobyl”
The illegal dumping of toxic waste is a worldwide problem that affects our environment in a number of ways. Toxins seep into our water supply, contaminate the soil, and can cause untold suffering for those who come into contact with them. Southern Italy is a case in point, as the area has experienced immeasurable problems […]
Huge impact of asbestos on Barrow shipyard workers
The dreadful legacy of asbestos has taken its toll on workers in many industries, but shipbuilding is one that has suffered considerable turmoil. Statistics show that Barrow has three times the number of asbestos deaths when compared with the national average, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Vickers Armstrong was one […]
Tremolite, Anthophyllite and Actinolite asbestos
These three forms of asbestos may be less familiar, but still pose a significant danger to health if their fibres are inhaled. They weren’t used as prolifically in industry as crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile, but are still present in many insulating and fireproofing materials. Tremolite Tremolite (Calcium Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide) is part of the amphibole […]
What are the implications of the new presidency for US asbestos victims?
A huge issue for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease is the long latency period between original exposure and the onset of symptoms. During this time, which is often many decades, asbestos fibres inhaled by the victim can cause genetic changes in the body. Once shortness of breath, a chronic cough, chest pain and […]
Asbestos victims remembered at Lincoln Cathedral
The Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team (DAST) displayed the names of more than 100 local victims of asbestos exposure on the west wall of Lincoln Cathedral last week. Intended to commemorate those who had died from mesothelioma, the event also raised public awareness of the dangers of this carcinogenic substance. The support group, originally set up […]
The widespread use of chrysotile asbestos and its legacy of disease
Chrysotile was historically the most common type of asbestos to be used by manufacturers around the world. Also known as white asbestos, it is part of the Serpentine family and has a different composition to crocidolite and amosite. It can still be found in large quantities today, despite being banned in the UK in 1999. […]
Factory fire causes asbestos scare
Four factory buildings in Wolverhampton caught fire last week, causing a health scare for local residents. It was feared that asbestos fibres might have been released during the fire, posing a health threat for those living nearby. Although many people were evacuated from their homes at the time of the fire, those who remained were […]
Why Some Countries Will Not Ban Asbestos
In 1931, the United Kingdom introduced the first asbestos regulations to control this toxic cancer causing mineral. In 1999, sixty-eight years after that first regulation, the UK officially prohibited all use of asbestos. This happened just 16 years after Iceland became the first country to issue a complete ban on the deadly mineral. Since then, […]
Poor and homeless at extreme risk of asbestos exposure
Thousands of poor and homeless people around the world have no alternative but to face the threat of asbestos on a daily basis. In many cases they are stuck in a system from which there is little chance of escape – a position which threatens their own lives and those of their families. Living in […]