UNDERSTANDING ASBESTOS
Types of Asbestos
Chrysotile (White Asbestos): The most used type, primarily found in roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors of homes and businesses.
Origins and Usage Asbestos has been used for thousands of years due to its fire-resistant properties. Its widespread use in the UK began during the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Amosite (Brown Asbestos): Used in cement sheets, ceiling tiles, and thermal insulation. It is more hazardous than chrysotile.
It was hailed for its versatility, strength, insulation, and fire-resistant properties and was used extensively in construction, shipbuilding, and the automotive industry.
Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos): The most hazardous type, used in spray-on coatings, pipe insulation, and cement products.
Hotspots and Traditional Industries
Shipbuilding: Towns with shipyards, such as Glasgow, Belfast, and Newcastle, were hotspots due to the extensive use of asbestos in ships for insulation and fireproofing.
Construction: Asbestos was widely used in building materials, making cities undergoing extensive construction and redevelopment, like London and Manchester, significant hotspots.
Manufacturing: Areas with heavy industry and manufacturing, such as the Midlands, saw extensive use of asbestos in factories for insulation and fireproofing.
Source of Asbestos Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral from rocks worldwide, including Canada, South Africa, and Russia. The UK imported vast asbestos during the 20th century to meet industrial demands. Ban on Asbestos Blue and brown asbestos was banned in the UK in 1985, but white asbestos continued to be used until 1999, when a total ban was implemented. The ban was instigated due to the undeniable link between asbestos exposure and serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.
Ongoing Exposure Despite the ban, people are still exposed to asbestos as it remains present in many older buildings constructed before the ban. Disturbance during renovations, demolitions, or maintenance work can release asbestos fibres into the air, posing a risk to construction workers, tradespeople, and occupants. The legacy of asbestos use continues to impact individuals, not only those in industries and areas where its use was prevalent but also many who are outside those traditional industries, who, through living their normal lives, have been exposed at school, hospital, in their homes or from the dust on the clothing of loved ones. Asbestos spreads a wide and devastating shadow on many lives. Thompsons Solicitors is dedicated to supporting victims of asbestos exposure and their families, and protecting future generations by campaigning for the removal of asbestos from all public buildings.
Understanding Asbestos
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