> Mesothelioma > Mesothelioma Around the World > Mesothelioma in the UK

Mesothelioma in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, followed closely by Australia. Individuals in England, Scotland and Wales are largely affected by asbestos-related diseases for a number of reasons, including the fact that asbestos use continued in the U.K. long after it was halted in other parts of the world. In addition, shipbuilders have historically been among those most affected by mesothelioma, and the shipbuilding industry has always been a part of the history of the United Kingdom, especially around the time of World War II.

Who is at Risk?

Individuals who have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers are at risk for developing mesothelioma or other forms of asbestos-related disease. Scientists have recently stated that no amount of asbestos exposure is safe, and inhalation of even the smallest amounts has the potential to cause lasting damage to delicate lung tissue.

In the United Kingdom, occupations known to be at the highest risk of asbestos exposure include:

• Carpenters
• Joiners
• Construction workers
• Plumbers
• Boilermakers
• Electricians

Buildings constructed prior to 2000 are likely to contain asbestos, and it is important for workers to use caution when performing renovations, demolition or other work on such structures.

Other occupations at a high risk for asbestos exposure include HVAC engineers, plasterers, roofing contractors, demolition crews, painters, pipe fitters, maintenance workers and even teachers.

In addition to these occupations, individuals who worked in the shipbuilding industry prior to the 1980s and those who served aboard a ship containing asbestos fall into the category of the highest risk of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

Facts and Figures

Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been tracking cases of mesothelioma since 1967, having recognized then that the disease was greatly impacting the workforce in certain fields. Since that time, the annual number of deaths due to mesothelioma has steadily climbed.

From 1982 to 1984, mesothelioma rates for men and women were 20.2 per million and 3.3 per million, respectively. From 2006 to 2008, rates had risen to 62.3 per million and 11.6 per million.

In 2008, the last year for which figures are available, 2,249 individuals in the United Kingdom died of mesothelioma. Of that number, men accounted for 83 percent of those deaths. The number of female deaths has historically been lower due to the fact that few women worked in the industries at highest risk of asbestos exposure. However, the annual number of deaths among women has increased more rapidly than the increase among men over the last ten years. Figures for women rose 68 percent in the last 10 years, compared to 35 percent for men. Women are often exposed to asbestos indirectly by living in areas near asbestos factories or coming into contact with people who worked with asbestos.

As in most countries, individuals who most often succumb to the disease in the U.K. are over the age of 65, though some younger individuals have been diagnosed due to secondhand exposure and indirect contact with asbestos materials.

Mesothelioma Incidence by Location

The Health and Safety Executive notes that there has been a general increase in the number of deaths from mesothelioma in most regions of the United Kingdom. The only regions that have seen a slight decrease for males have been Scotland, North East, South East and West Midlands. An upward trend for women has been found in all regions.

The 20 most affected sites in the United Kingdom continue to be the areas where shipbuilding was most prevalent. The areas with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include:

• Barking and Dagenham
• Barrow-In-Furness
• Crewe and Nantwich
• Eastleigh
• Glasgow City
• Gosport
• Hartlepool
• Havant
• Inverclyde
• Medway
• Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
• Newham
• North Tyneside
• Plymouth
• Portsmouth
• Renfrewshire
• South Tyneside
• Southampton
• Sunderland
• West Dunbartonshire

Finding Assistance

For individuals who believe that they may have been exposed to asbestos while employed at a shipyard or other high-risk jobsite, it is important to schedule regular health checkups to ensure that exposure did not cause lasting respiratory damage. Please fill out the form on this page to find out more information about asbestos-related diseases, symptoms and treatment options in the U.K.

Sources: