Asbestos induced cancer time bomb in the West

Main Category: Asbestos / Mesothelioma
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 31 Jan 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Doctors say that developed countries are on the verge of an asbestos disease epidemic. They say that at least 100,000 people (mainly men) will die from mesothelioma (article in the British Medical Journal).

This cancer is caused by inhalating asbestos. It takes about fifty years to develop.

In the UK, 1,800 people get this disease each year. Doctors are saying that (in the UK) these numbers will rocket soon.

During the 1960s to 1970s hundreds of thousands of people were exposed to asbestos (in the Western World). Before the health risks of asbestos became known it was used as an insulator in buildings and industry.

The types of people who are most at risk today are those who worked as plumbers, builders and shipyard workers during that time.

Doctors say that as several schools and hospitals were constructed with asbestos (insulation) teachers and doctors/nurses may also be at risk (even though these are not mentioned, I wonder why they did not include school children).

Add to this list the wives and daughters who washed their husband's/father's overalls (if they were asbestos workers) and we have quite a few people.

In 1983 restrictions in the use of asbestos were introduced in the UK.

Doctors and experts say that the rates of mesothelioma will peak some time in the future. 'The peak of the epidemic is expected in 2015 to 2020 when the death rate is likely to be 2,000 per year in the United Kingdom,' said Professor Tom Treasure of Guy's Hospital in London.

He said other European countries and Australia are facing a similar rise in disease.

The USA (which introduced asbestos restrictions before the UK did) has probably already seen its peak (or is seeing it now).

Doctors should look out for the signs of this disease.

Experts believe there are still about 100,000 people who are alive today who will die from this disease.

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