Asbestos Related Diseases

There are four main diseases caused by asbestos and these may not manifest themselves for many years after the exposure.

You have three years to claim for compensation following the initial diagnosis of the disease.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a formerly rare form of cancer.
It affects the pleura (the lining of the lungs) and the peritoneum (the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract).
It causes severe pain and impairment in both function and quality of life.
In the majority of cases Mesothelioma proves fatal within 12-18 months of first diagnosis.
The disease has been proven to be related to asbestos exposure, in many cases within the work place.
It can take typically 30-40 years from the initial exposure to the onset of the disease.
The number of Mesothelioma deaths has increased from 153 in 1968 to 2249 in 2008.*
The most common occupations of these people include carpenters, joiners, plumbers, electricians, heating and ventilation engineers.*

(*Source - Health and Safety Executive Statistics 2009/10)

Mesothelioma Compensation

Causes severe pain and impairment of both function and quality of life, often proves fatal within a matter of months of first diagnosis: £35,000 - £83,750.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a disease of uncontrolled cell growth in the tissues of the lung which form a malignant tumour. This then grows through the surrounding tissues and eventually causes obstruction to the air passages.
Lung cancer is likely to have a fatal outcome, but the symptoms often endure for several years.
Asbestos has been recognised, for many years, as an important risk factor in developing lung cancer.
Lung cancer is also associated with smoking.
It can take up to 20 years from initial exposure to the onset of the disease.
It is likely that there are around as many asbestos related lung cancer deaths in Great Britain per year as there are Mesothelioma deaths.
There were 2249 deaths in 2008*

(*Source - Health and Safety Executive Statistics 2009/10)

Lung Cancer Compensation

Causes severe pain and is again fatal in most cases: £51,000 - £66,000.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is defined as lung fibrosis, caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
Asbestosis causes scarring of the lungs which reduces the lungs natural elasticity. This eventually leads to breathlessness, as the lungs are unable to perform effective oxygen uptake into the bloodstream.
Mobility is severely impaired and the quality of life is significantly reduced as a result.
It can take between 15-20 years from initial exposure to the onset of the disease.
Based on death certificates, there were 117 deaths in 2008, where asbestosis is described as the underlying cause*.
Cases of asbestosis may sometimes not be recorded as such, as they may be mistaken for other types of lung fibrosis or be undiagnosed.*.

(Source - Health and Safety Executive Statistics 2009/10)

Asbestosis Compensation

In the early stages the disease may be symptomless, but progresses to causing severe breathlessness. Mobility is usually profoundly impaired and quality of life reduced: £31,500 - £69,500.

Pleural Thickening

This is a non malignant disease whereby the lining of the lung (pleura) thicken. This typically causes progressive symptoms of breathlessness, by inhibiting lung expansion.
This usually then leads to reduced mobility and respiratory disability.
It is associated with the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
This is a chronic disease and normally takes around 10 years from initial exposure to the onset of the disease.

Pleural Thickening Compensation

Causes progressive symptoms of breathlessness and respiratory disability: £25,250 - £51,500.