Asbestos Big Problem in Northern Ireland

In just the last five years, there were more than 300 estimated deaths in Northern Ireland from asbestos exposure, notes a U.TV article, citing a new government report.

The Northern Ireland General Register Office, the province’s record keeper, said that mesothelioma and asbestosis were the primary or secondary causes of some 75 deaths annually. The report also suggests  there were possibly another 40 lung cancer deaths each year where asbestosis or mesothelioma were contributing factors, as well. Mesothelioma is a rare but deadly disease that affects the linings of the heart, lungs or abdomen. Asbestos exposure is nearly always the cause of mesothelioma. Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos.

The situation is serious: Unlike the United States, which phased out asbestos in building materials in the 1980s, asbestos was used in Northern Ireland until about 2000. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) organization predicts this number to rise. In response, it has organized free training called “Asbestos Training Pledge NI” to help local construction workers protect themselves from asbestos exposure.

But given asbestos' widespread adoption in the United States, it's still a problem there, as well. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral once used extensively in building materials because of its high tensile strength, durability, high availability, and low cost. Since the 1970s, and possibly before, research has linked asbestos exposure definitively to multiple painful and deadly diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Many manufacturers knew their asbestos products posed serious health risks, but some hid this information from both their workers and the public. Have you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos while at a workplace? Then call Sokolove Law today for a free legal consultation about a potential mesothelioma lawsuit.

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