What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a term used to describe a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. Before its negative effects on health were known, asbestos was often used in buildings for insulation, flooring and roofing and sprayed on both ceilings and walls. The use of asbestos is now completely banned in the UK. However, buildings constructed before the year 2000 may still have asbestos in them.

When damaged or disturbed tiny asbestos fibres can be released into the air and subsequently breathed into your lungs causing health issues with catastrophic effects.

The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not become evident for many years – even decades after the original exposure to asbestos, so exposure a long time ago might only be showing up as a disease today.

There are 4 main diseases associated with breathing in asbestos fibres:

• non-malignant pleural disease (diffuse pleural thickening and pleural plaques)

• asbestosis - a non-malignant scarring of the lung tissue

• asbestos-related lung cancer

• mesothelioma - a form of cancer mainly affecting the lining of the lungs

Asbestos still remains the single largest cause of occupational death and disease in the UK.

Asbestos still kills around 5000 workers each year, this is more than the number of people killed on the road. Around 20 tradesmen die each week as a result of past exposure.

Types of asbestos:

• Chrysotile: Commonly referred to as white asbestos

• Amosite: Commonly referred to as brown asbestos

• Crocidolite: Commonly referred to as blue asbestos 

For more information on asbestos please contact us by clicking here or telephone our enquiries team on 0114 6980115