The World’s Most High Profile Asbestos Cases

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with a host of seemingly extraordinary qualities. Strong, durable, with heat resistant and insulating properties, it can be put to a remarkable number of uses. It’s also easy and cheap to produce.

Consequently asbestos has been mined in locations worldwide and used in an astonishing number of ways from ship building, construction and the automobile industries, to furniture and clothing manufacture, plastic and household laundry products. The list is endless and covers every aspect of commercial and domestic life.

Warning Signs Are Ignored

By the mid 20th century research had established a link between exposure to asbestos fibres and a number of serious respiratory diseases. By the 1920s leading medical journals were publishing reports on the dangers of asbestos-related illnesses and instances of related diseases continued to rise. However several decades were to pass before any form of regulation to limit its use were put in place.

As the medical evidence started to increase, so did the influence of the thriving and prosperous asbestos companies. Indeed in more recent years the growing economic influence of developing countries has led to a massive increase in demand for cheap construction materials.

Production Marches On

Whilst production of blue and brown asbestos is now banned worldwide, mining of white asbestos is still legally acceptable and continues to flourish. Canada, Russia, Zimbabwe, India and Brazil are all major producers.

Indeed experts employed by the industry have even argued that it would be economically damaging to deny cheap products to the Third World, as this would hinder the development of emerging markets.

Fatal Consequences

Given this environment it’s hardly surprising that the instance of asbestos-related diseases continues to increase. Infection occurs when asbestos fibres are released into the atmosphere and then inhaled or swallowed – for example when building materials are broken down by drilling or sanding. The resulting conditions are untreatable and many prove fatal.

In the UK around 4,000 people a year die from illness due to asbestos exposure. This is higher than fatalities caused by road accidents.

The Fight for Compensation

This situation has led to numerous court cases to obtain compensation for victims. In the UK the turning point came in 2012 when the Supreme Court ruled in favour of families fighting for compensation for mesothelioma sufferers (a type of asbestos-related lung cancer).

Company insurers had refused to pay compensation as the victims no longer worked for the firm when they became ill. However it was established that disease usually took many years to manifest after the asbestos fibres were inhaled. Therefore the original companies, and hence their insurers, were still liable.