March 14th, 2007

Amidst calls for action from victims and consumers groups with regards to raising awareness of mesothelioma in the UK, the country saw a range of events held countrywide last week. The events were held across the UK to mark the 2007 Action Mesothelioma Day, and included a parliamentary reception at the House of Commons, attended by MPs and organized by the British Lung Foundation.

One of the victims that has been affected by this cancer – which is directly linked to exposure to airborne asbestos fibers and dust – is a school teacher. It is thought that seventy-four year-old Ann Weaver was exposed to asbestos when she returned to teaching in 1979 after taking time out to stay home with her children as they grew up. She is now keen for awareness of this disease and its causes to be increased throughout the country.

She stated: "I taught at Aslacton School until 1989. For the last 4 years before I retired I taught from an old mobile classroom which was suspected of being made of asbestos as many mobile classrooms were. As many teachers do, I was always pinning up the children's work on to the walls of the classroom and this could very easily have released the asbestos fibres which lead to this terrible disease."

She also added: "People need to be aware that many people are at risk from Asbestos exposure, not just those who worked in heavy industry and construction. The use of Asbestos in schools was a tragic mistake; I want to do all I can to alert people to the dangers of asbestos."