The toll of unforeseen asbestos exposure

p>From 1941 to 1991, Tom Brindley worked for International Combustion, in Derby, England, cutting up asbestos sheets used to lag power station ducting. He also handled asbestos powder when mixing it with water to make a paste for the lagging. All of this information was revealed to a Derby and South Derbyshire Coroner’s Court earlier this month.

On May 13^th, at the age of 83, Tom Brindley died of mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest, lungs and abdomen most commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. A post-mortem examination found a tumor in the lining of his lung that metastasized to his heart and lymph nodes. The cause of death was listed as bronchial pneumonia caused by mesothelioma due to "significant exposure to asbestos." Mesothelioma treatmentsinclude surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the disease is almost always fatal.

In a statement written before his death and read in court, Tom explained that the asbestos sheets “would arrive in sheets and I would have to cut it up with a saw, line it up with bolt holes to clad it to the ducting. It would also arrive in bags as powder and I would rip open the sacks and scoop it out before mixing it with water and making into a thick paste.

"There were no fans or ventilation and it wasn’t until the late 1970s or early 80s we were provided with face masks. We were totally unaware of the dangers of being exposed to asbestos."