Page 7 - A National Asbestos Strategy

WHY CHANGE IS NEEDED:
CONTEXT OF ASBESTOS IN THE UK
Like all construction materials, asbestos will degrade over time and, if not properly maintained,
may release asbestos fibres into the atmosphere. The State of Victoria in Australia has published
the below, which shows the expected lifespan of commonly used asbestos materials. Based on
research by the Victorian Eradication Agency, this indicates that many asbestos materials widely
used in the UK have already exceeded their expected lifespan.
Figure 1 - Asbestos Product Lifespan Estimates - Victorian Asbestos Eradication Agency
The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment
has acknowledged that the younger a person is at the time of first asbestos exposure, the greater
their lifetime risk of developing an asbestos-related illness.5 While regulations mandate identifying
and managing asbestos in workplaces, they do not extend to residential buildings. Although these
measures have reduced deaths from occupational exposure, they inadequately address asbestos
in non-work environments. There are increasing rates of asbestos-related deaths among women,
particularly those in professions like teaching and nursing, where exposure likely occurred in their
workplaces.
5 UK Health and Safety Executive. Relative Vulnerability of Children to Asbestos Compared to Adults. UK Government, 25 Feb. 2019,
www.gov.uk/government/publications/relative-vulnerability-of-children-to-asbestos-compared-to-adults
www.asbestosinformation.org.uk
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