South East of England Has Suffered the Most Asbestos-Related Deaths

As we’ve spent more time inside our homes, many of us are starting our own refurbishment projects. We’re making our living spaces more liveable and improving the design, whether out of necessity or sheer boredom. But the downside? Many news outlets, as well as Sky News, have reported a shocking surge in fly-tipping asbestos material over lockdown. Homeowners are irresponsibly dumping this waste that can have lifelong adverse health effects. Asbestos is potentially hazardous and in need of specialist and expensive removal by experts. 

What is asbestos, and why was it used if it was dangerous? 

Asbestos was used widely across the world as a building material throughout the 1950s through to the 80s. It is strong, cheap, insulating, and widely available. However, the dangerous health effects weren’t known like they are now. Sadly, this means that this dangerous fibre was integrated into most industrial buildings until it was banned in 1999. Although it is removed when identified through asbestos surveys, there is still some of this material existing today. These fibres are so big that they can’t be broken down by the body, translating to around 5,000 deaths a year. Worse, 94 per cent are preventable. 

Research shows that severe or even fatal diseases can be incurred when asbestos fibres and released and inhaled. These illnesses have a long latency period, meaning symptoms of these diseases may not be evident until 30 to 40 years after exposure. Those who have come into contact with asbestos are at risk of cancers, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as asbestosis, a serious lung condition caused by long-term exposure, reduced respiratory function, and death. 

Because of the delayed health effects, from the period 2010 to 2020, we witnessed a surge in mesothelioma deaths. The Guardian reported that in 2017, deaths reached record levels after such heavy asbestos usage in the 60s and 70s. Rates of mesothelioma, which almost always results in fatality, increased from 1,317 cases in 1995 to 2,523 in 2017. 

According to