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Petition calls for national asbestos disease centre

20 May 2009

A 24,000-signature petition has been presented to 10 Downing Street calling on the Government to fund a National Centre for Asbestos Related disease.

Mesothelioma- an asbestos related cancer – is one of the least researched of the UK’s top 20 cancers, despite claiming more than 2,000 lives each year in the UK.

It is believed this figure will continue to rise, peaking in 2015.

Mesothelioma can affect the lining of a victim’s lungs and is a fatal illness. 

Although there are some treatments and surgical interventions which can increase life expectancy, it is generally difficult to treat because of its location and it does not seem to respond well to chemotherapy.

There are many workers who could have come into contact with asbestos during the course of their employment as asbestos was used extensively as a building, insulating and fireproof material particularly from the 1950s to 1980s. People exposed as long ago as 40 years might only now be developing asbestos related conditions.

However, with asbestos still believed to remain in around 500,000 UK buildings there is continuing concern that workers are still at risk of exposure such as builders, plumbers and joiners. People are at risk when the asbestos is disturbed and asbestos fibers become airborne.

Teaching Unions are also campaigning for asbestos to be removed from schools, following Health and Safety figures showing that 228 teachers died from asbestos-related diseases between 1991 and 2005.

The petition for a National Asbestos research centre was launched at Action Mesothelioma Day, in February, by asbestos charities around the country.

The need for more research into this area is long overdue.

The government in Australia has already committed AUS$6.2m to such a centre. Mesothelioma and other asbestos conditions are extremely debilitating and distressing for the victims and their families. Funding for a UK centre for life saving treatment has to be a priority.

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Sara Hunt

Associate
T: 08700 86 4221
I: +44 (0)121 625 4221
E: sara.hunt@shoosmiths.co.uk