It’s still killing people, and the government has yet to act: Britain’s hidden asbestos epidemic | Tom White

The article discusses the ongoing asbestos epidemic in Britain, despite the material being banned in 1999. It highlights the case of Helen Bone, who was diagnosed with the incurable asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma at the age of 38 and passed away in 2022, just three years after her diagnosis. The article explains that asbestos was widely used in various industries and buildings, and the long latency period of mesothelioma, which can range from 15 to 40 years, means that people are still being affected by exposure from decades ago. The article cites data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which estimates that asbestos still kills around 5,000 people per year, though some anti-asbestos campaigners believe the real figure is closer to 20,000. The article emphasizes that despite the ban, the government has yet to take adequate action to address the ongoing asbestos crisis, which continues to claim thousands of lives each year in the UK.