A Fourth Wave Of British Asbestos Deaths Is Imminent
Over the past decade, reports have emerged about a rising number of deaths from mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of certain organs, usually the lungs, and associated with exposure to asbestos dust, from victims that have not worked with asbestos, nor have knowingly been exposed to it. The growing number of deaths is said to look like the beginning of a Fourth wave of asbestos mesothelioma deaths.
The first three waves of asbestos
The First wave comprised the handling of raw asbestos by miners and dockers and in the manufacture of asbestos products. In the UK, this wave lasted from around 1880 to 1990.
The Second wave closely followed the timing of the First wave and affected construction workers and those installing asbestos products, such as laggers and garage mechanics.
The Third Wave described people exposed to occasional very high doses during repair, renovation and removal of asbestos by trade and construction workers, during the period circa 1980 to the present day.
What is the Fourth Wave?
Emerging evidence suggests that future cases of mesothelioma will be dominated by those exposed to asbestos as children in schools in recent years, today and in the future.
Asbestos was installed liberally in the UK’s buildings throughout the last century and remains present in buildings still in use. Because some of those buildings are in poor condition and have been inadequately maintained, asbestos materials are crumbling and, due to the normal disturbance of buildings, they are releasing fibres into the air, meaning virtually everyone is exposed to asbestos in the UK today, albeit in much lower concentrations.
What is especially concerning is that the risk of contracting mesothelioma roughly doubles for every decade during which a person was exposed to asbestos fibres, meaning children are even more at risk. A child aged 5 is said to have five times the risk compared to an adult aged 30, given the same level of exposure, meaning that children are most likely to make up the future “Fourth wave” of mesothelioma deaths. Concerningly, CLASP (system built schools), have a history of being riddled with amosite (Note the Health and Safety Executive’s Asbestos: The Survey Guide scores the risk from Amosite on a scale of 1-3 as 2 (Chrysotile (white asbestos) scoring 1 and Crocidolite (blue asbestos) scoring 3.
Writing about British schools in 2024, Dr Gill Reed estimated that hundreds of thousands would die from mesothelioma (from attending school) after the mid-1990s due to increased exposure to damaged asbestos1.
However, the problem does not stop at schools. Any buildings built before the UK ban on new use of asbestos in 1999, are likely to contain asbestos, including hospitals and housing, as well as office buildings.
Professor Cherrie at a recent presentation to the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management Conference FAAM noted that: “The main source of future mesothelioma cases and asbestos-related lung cancers is likely to arise from background exposure for people like teachers and office workers in buildings containing ACMs,”
Other worrying statistics have come to light in recent years with the UK military affected. In 2020, Mesothelioma UK published research showing that 340 mesothelioma claims were made to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme between April 2016 and March 2020 and recently the Daily Mail reported that Mesothelioma has killed nine times more former service personnel than the conflict in Afghanistan.
The Fourth wave of deaths is likely to be much smaller than those in the first, second and third waves. Whilst primary legislation such as the 1984 Asbestos Prohibition Regulations have been effective in reducing asbestos exposure and will act to reduce the number of asbestos deaths, asbestos remaining in schools means we may expect hundreds or thousands more younger people to die from Mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure taking place earlier in life.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation, even if exposure happened decades ago or outside the workplace.
Our specialist asbestos and industrial disease lawyers have extensive experience supporting individuals and families affected by asbestos exposure, including cases involving schools, public buildings and secondary exposure. We can advise on your legal options with sensitivity and clarity. Contact our Asbestos & Workplace Illness team for confidential, no-obligation advice on 0330 822 3451 or request a callback.