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Asbestos
The Silent Assassin

Many ex service men and women may have been exposed to Asbestos during their service. Although you may have been exposed to Asbestos, it does not necessarily mean that you will suffer from any asbestos related diseases such as Asbestosis or Mesothelioma, a rare but lethal form of cancer.

Just as; not all cigarette, cigar or pipe smokers’ contract, or die of cancer, so not all people exposed to Asbestos will be affected by Asbestosis or Mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral so it is possible that we all have some form of asbestos fibres in our bodies.

It is not only those people that have been working with Asbestos, or working in an environment where damage to manufactured asbestos has occurred, thereby releasing the fibres into the atmosphere in which they were working that may have a problem in later life. Grand children, sons, daughters and the wives of men who have worked with asbestos are also at risk.

There are three types of asbestos designated by colour, although identification by colour is not an option.

White asbestos (Chrysotile) very pretty to look at in its natural form, considered to be not as dangerous as Brown or Blue asbestos, but still deadly. It can be woven into a fabric; the most common use is within corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets typically used for outbuildings, warehouses and garages. It is also used in flat sheets used for ceilings and sometimes for walls and floors. Numerous other items have been made containing Chrysotile including brake linings, fuse box fire protection, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and rope seals for boilers and domestic cookers, and heat resistant gloves and Fire suites.

Brown asbestos (Amosite)

Blue asbestos (Crocidolite)

To learn more about asbestos related products and if you are at risk visit:
HSE

Many living veterans were exposed to toxic asbestos-containing materials during their military service

If you are British military or ex military and want to know more about Mesothelioma

Or if you want to know how the American’s are dealing Mesothelioma and click treatment for information on how they are dealing with it,