Asbestos Use in the United Kingdom

For much of the twentieth century, countries around the world made rampant use of asbestos because it was touted as an excellent insulator, offering superior fire- and heat-resistant properties. The naturally occurring mineral was also known for its durability and low price. In the United Kingdom, asbestos was used in literally thousands of products from the time of the Industrial Revolution to nearly the end of the 1900s.

In the United Kingdom, an "official" policy on the use of asbestos has been in place since the mid-1980s. A ban on blue and brown asbestos was issued in 1985 and on white asbestos in 1999. Current regulations also ban "the second-hand use of asbestos products such as asbestos cement sheets and asbestos boards and tiles; including panels which have been covered with paint or textured plaster containing asbestos." As is the case in most countries, the ban applies to new uses of asbestos. Any existing asbestos materials in good condition may be left in place and should be monitored, the laws state.

Because of the longterm use of the hazardous mineral, the United Kingdom has seen a marked increase in cases of the asbestos-caused cancer mesothelioma in the past 20 years. For example, the country's Health and Safety Executive reports that only 153 cases of the disease were diagnosed in 1968. In 2006, the last year for which statistics are currently available, 2,056 individuals died of mesothelioma. Projections say cases of the disease in the UK will peak around 2015, with approximately 2,500 annual deaths from mesothelioma occurring around that time.

Like the United States, many cases of mesothelioma resulted from work in the United Kingdom's many shipyards, especially during the busy war years. But other occupations were at risk as well. Below is a partial list of the industries in the United Kingdom that have the highest number of mesothelioma cases.

• Navy Seamen
• Dockworkers
• Other Civilian Shipyard Employees
• Boilermakers
• Heating and Air Conditioning Workers
• Carpenters
• Joiners
• Pipefitters and Plumbers
• Steamfitters
• Laggers and Sprayers
• Roofers
• Construction and Demolition Workers
• Engineers
• Electricians
• Railway Workers
• Insulators
• Power Station Employees
• Chemical Plant Employees
• Mechanics
• Asbestos Manufacturers

As use of asbestos in products decreased, exposure rates decreased as well. But because asbestos continued to be used into the 1980s and 1990s, many who were exposed during that time period may not have yet developed mesothelioma, which has a long latency period of about 20-50 years, or another asbestos-related disease.

As the twenty-first century progresses, experts fear more and more individuals will be diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as well, prompting the need for more and better research concerning the diagnosis and treatment of the disease among individuals residing in the United Kingdom.