What is
Asbestos?
Asbestos is a highly-fibrous mineral with long, thin, separable
fibers. For decades, asbestos was the insulating material of choice
for many industries such as building, mining and as lagging on
boilers and pipes in homes. As asbestos ages, it becomes brittle
allowing fibres to be released more easily. Asbestos fibers can
have serious effects on your health if inhaled. The more exposure
you have to asbestos, the greater the risk of developing an
asbestos-related disease.
There are three main types: crocidolite
(blue), amosite (brown) and chrysotile (white). The import of blue
and brown asbestos was enforced in 1985 with a ban for the import
of white asbestos coming into effect in 1999.
Asbestos is most likely to be found in:
- Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have
asbestos as insulation
- Vinyl floor tiles
- Lagging (pipes and boilers)
- Insulating boards
- Moulded or pre-formed lagging
- Cloths and textiles
- Paints and surface coverings
- Corrugated roofing sheets
Asbestos related diseases can take more than
30 years to develop. Many people who breathed in the lethal dust in
the 1960s and '70s, are only just discovering its effects.
Asbestos
claims legal advice
There are many different types of illnesses and conditions you can
develop after being exposed to asbestos. The worst-case scenario is
a fast and deadly cancer. Contact us immediately to discuss your
asbestos-related disease claim if you have had contact
with asbestos and have been diagnosed with:
- Asbestosis
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
At Hodge Jones & Allen in
London NW1 our specialist personal injury asbestos claim
solicitors will help you piece together how, when and where you
contracted your illness. Even if the company you worked for no
longer exists, its insurers probably do, so claiming
asbestos-related compensation may still be available. It won’t
repair your life, but it could make you more comfortable.