Asbestosis: What Happens to Asbestos-laden Materials?

Raynesway, United KingdomAn interesting, albeit tragic asbestosis story is emerging out of Britain, throwing a new focus on the entire issue of asbestos and asbestos-contaminated products. To wit, when asbestos-contaminated materials are removed from a building, school et al, what happens to them? Where does the asbestos-laden products wind up?

In Derbyshire County located in the UK, the answer to that is often—up in smoke. To that end, a number of families representing asbestosis victims are seeking asbestosis compensation from Derbyshire County Council with regard to an incinerator that may have exposed innocent people to asbestos dust.

The December 13 edition of the Derby Evening Telegraph tells the story of Arnold Cook, who worked at a large incineration furnace at Raynesway. He died from asbestosis disease at the age of 73—the lawsuits against Derbyshire Country Council emerged at an inquest into Cook's death. However, before he died, Cook gave a statement that puts the entire asbestos issue into a different focus.

Cook recalled that in the 1970s, when concern over asbestos really hit the public consciousness, there emerged a 'panic' over asbestos to the point where the Raynesway plant witnessed an influx of asbestos garages, sheds and other materials. The offending structures were flattened, and then burned.

The inquest was told workers, at times, wore protective clothing—but not always. It is not known if protective breathing apparatus was provided to prevent workers from coming into contact with smoke.

There are other issues. Workers at the plant were told, at the time the furnace opened in 1970, that Raynesway did not contain asbestos in its construction. However, it was later found that the furnaces were lagged with asbestos, according to the testimony of employees who were responsible for cleaning the furnaces.

The inquest into Cook's asbestosis death was also told that waste destined for incineration at the plant was never checked for asbestos content. "They were put into a pit and crushed and then put into a furnace. Asbestos wasn't kept separate, it was just part of the waste," Cook said in a statement. Workers had no control over material coming into the furnaces. As for the dust, extractor fans employed to help diffuse the offending dust from the plant they would often break down, the inquest heard.

Cook was diagnosed with asbestosis in 2007. In late August of this year he was hospitalized with pneumonia, where he later died on September 3. A post-mortem confirmed heavy scarring and plural plaques in the lungs, which are consistent with asbestos. The coroner ruled Cook's death as stemming from "heavy" asbestos exposure.

Cook's widow, according to the Evening Telegraph, is pursuing a compensation claim with an asbestosis lawyer.