Global Asbestos Awareness Week 1st - 7th April 2025 - Chronicle Law

The 1st-7th April 2025 makes way for Global Asbestos Awareness Week which aims to educate people about the dangers of asbestos material and preventative measures that can be put in place. This global awareness week has been running for the last 21 years and helped to bring together many victims of the industry and been a vehicle to drive change in policy making.

The use of the material was banned in the UK in 1999 when campaigners brought evidence which highlighted the catastrophic damage and life-threatening illnesses many people that worked with material now suffer. Despite being banned in the UK in 1999, asbestos is still present in thousands of buildings, and its deadly effects continue to claim around 5,000 lives each year. A large number of claimants still come forward to solicitors for help each year.

Our colleagues at Oakwood Solicitors have helped support many victims with their claims, Liam Hill of the Industrial Disease Department kindly shared this guide to Asbestosis with us.

What is Asbestosis? What are the symptoms? What can we do to help?

As Industrial Disease solicitors, we act for Claimants in relation to a number of different conditions, but one of the most serious conditions is Asbestosis. Often a diagnosis of Asbestosis can be slow to obtain, and other conditions can arise as a result of the same exposure that caused the Asbestosis.

In this piece we want to explore what Asbestosis actually is, what symptoms to be aware of if you have been exposed to Asbestos fibers, and what we as solicitors can do in the event of a diagnosis of this condition.

So, what is Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a severe lung condition which occurs as a result of tiny fibres from asbestos materials which are inhaled, causing scar tissue to form in your lungs. Once it has been inhaled and the scarring commences, thickening of the tissues in the lung can also occur and breathing difficulties will eventually become noticeable.

Exposure to Asbestos fibres can ultimately lead to cancer, such as mesothelioma, as well as affect other areas of the body including the heart and throat.

How do I know if I have been exposed to Asbestos?

Whilst most people exposed physically to asbestos are often aware that they have worked with it, usually many years ago, the types of asbestos do vary and are known by different names.

Unfortunately, many people do not realise they have been exposed to asbestos until they are diagnosed with a condition which can only have been caused by previous exposure.

There are six different types of asbestos, which include:

Chrysotile asbestos – often known as white asbestos which is the most common found in buildings, as this was often used in lagging of pipes and in brake lines and pads. As this is the most common type of asbestos, it is the type linked to most diagnosis of asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Actinolite asbestos – an asbestos darker in colour and mainly constitutes silicone, magnesium, calcium and iron. Most commonly this was used in paints, sealants, cement and insultation.

Amosite asbestos – commonly referred to as brown asbestos. This is common in roofing materials, including tiles and fireproofing.

Anthophyllite asbestos – often described as yellowish or brownish. This type of asbestos was uncommon in most materials but was still used in home insulation and cements.

Crocidolite asbestos – commonly referred to as blue asbestos. Another common form of asbestos which in responsible for a high number of asbestos-related illness, and commonly used in insultation and tiles.

Tremolite asbestos – described as anything from white to green asbestos, again used in items such as paint and roofing.

What symptoms should I look out for?

Asbestosis and other asbestos-related health conditions often present themselves in chest-related symptoms. Commonly, these symptoms are:

Shortness of breath
Coughing
Chest pain
Fatigue
Unexpected weight loss

Something to bear in mind with asbestos exposure is that it often does not cause you symptoms at the time of exposure. It often takes many years, as long as 20 to 35 years to develop symptoms and some people exposed will not developed any illness or symptoms at all.

If you begin to suffer with any of the above symptoms, we would encourage you to seek urgent medical attention. Where you have a known history of asbestos exposure please make sure you make your G.P. aware of this during your appointment to discuss your symptoms.

In the event it is determined that you need medical care in relation to your symptoms and that you have an asbestos-related illness, you can be diagnosed with a number of different conditions. These include malignant mesothelioma or lung cancer, pleural plaques, pleural thickening and asbestosis.

So what can we do to help?

We understand that for anyone diagnosed with any asbestos related lung condition it is a troubling time for you and your family. We realise that you will be very worried about the future and that you will have to come to terms with your diagnosis.

We would always encourage anyone who is diagnosed with an asbestos-related lung condition that at an appropriate juncture you contact a solicitor to see if assistance can be provided in these circumstances.

As industrial disease solicitors, our main aim is to ensure that you and your family receive compensation as a result of the exposure and the resulting illness you now suffer from.

Whilst our main aim is to recover compensation, we are always there to support and assist you and your family through this difficult time.

Whilst you may be feeling anxious about your diagnosis there are always ways to cope with conditions such as Asbestosis. There are also support charities available such as:

Global Asbestos Awareness Week 1st – 7th April 2025