Asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral fibre with known carcinogenic properties, continues to pose a significant threat to public health. Despite its ban in the UK and many other countries, asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) remain prevalent in older buildings and exposure to asbestos fibres can lead to serious health consequences – so why then has the EU delayed the launch of its screening programme?
Mesothelioma, a particularly rare and aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, has seen a concerning increase in recent years. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recently reported a significant rise in mesothelioma cases, highlighting the ongoing dangers of asbestos. EU sources report cases up 10% year on year.
To put this into perspective UKHSA reported in 2017, that twelve thousand lung disease deaths annually were estimated to be linked to past occupational exposures and 18,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems are self-reported as being caused or made worse by work. The legacy of asbestos use continues to dominate mortality statistics, accounting for approximately 40% of annual deaths from respiratory disease. Click link to read more:
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