Asbestos Diseases

Asbestos Claims

Cancer

Pleural Plaques

Pleural Thickening

Mesothelioma

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Asbestosis

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We are a national network of specialist personal injury solicitors with extensive experience of no win no fee asbestos claims. Damages are paid in full with no deductions and our claim service is completely risk free. For free advice just complete the contact form and a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts will telephone you with no obligation.

Exposure is linked to several other serious conditions including:

• Mesothelioma which is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs or around the abdominal organs;
• Pleural Disease which is the formation of "plaques" on the lungs or thickening of the lung pleura;
• Lung Cancer which is often associated with exposure;

Categories of occupation at particular risk includes;

• laggers
• merchant navy seamen
• refractory bricklayers and turbine/boiler operators in power stations
• dockers
• lab technicians
• asbestos factory employees
• building site and construction workers
• aerospace workers
• insulation engineers
• boilermen

Over 3,500 people die each year in the United Kingdom from illnesses related to exposure and the annual numbers of deaths are predicted to go on rising into the next decade. This product is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used for over 150 years on a large commercial scale as a fire proofing and insulation material. It was used extensively as a building material for over 30 years starting in the 1950s however its use is now illegal in the construction or refurbishment of any premises. Whilst it is undisturbed and in good condition there is no risk however if it is disturbed or damaged it can become a danger to health as a result of asbestos fibers being released into the air. Some of this material has been removed however it is estimated that it is present in over half a million non-domestic premises amounting in total to many thousands of tonnes. Removal work will continue for the foreseeable future and those involved are now potentially at the highest risk, as are workers involved in the refurbishment, repair or maintenance of these buildings including plumbers, joiners and electricians.

This condition, which gives rise to thousands of asbestos claims every year, is a fibrosis of the lung and is a reaction to the presence of fibers which reach the bronchioles and air sacs of the lung and cause a fibrous thickening mainly in the lower parts of the lung. Diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical evidence in conjunction with X-rays following a history of serious exposure. Almost everyone is exposed to these fibers during their lifetime however it is now widely recognized that significant exposure is necessary in order to develop this disease. Symptoms usually develop slowly after exposure and in some cases exposure may have begun decade’s previously. Breathlessness occurs first and progresses, often with little or no cough however the victim eventually becomes weak and distressed even when at rest.