http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/wtf-vessel-too-toxic-for-bangladeshi-ship-breakers-sent-to-uk/1369 for environmentalists who don't take themselves too seriously Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:39:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/wtf-vessel-too-toxic-for-bangladeshi-ship-breakers-sent-to-uk/1369/comment-page-1#comment-66104 Albo Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:43:29 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/wtf-vessel-too-toxic-for-bangladeshi-ship-breakers-sent-to-uk/1369#comment-66104 I don't know how many people are familiar with Asbestos Toxicity, the town my family are from, Rochdale, had one of the largest Asbestos factories in Europe at the beginning of the last century. Since then it has been a serious stigma in the small Lancashire town, with a series of documentaries focused on the effects Asbestos exposure had on its workers. The worst of the possible health implications regarding exposure to Asbestos fibers is the development of Mesothelioma, there are 3 different types of the disease. According to the Thompsons Website, Pleural Mesothelioma is 'the most common, and is caused by inhaling asbestos fibres into the lungs. A tumour forms on the lining (pleura) of the lungs, which makes breathing difficult and painful....Unfortunately, there is no cure for mesothelioma and after diagnosis victims may only have a short time to live. It will usually be investigated whether surgery...would be worthwhile; however, mesothelioma is considered to be a terminal illness.' After speaking to industrial claim solicitors Russell Jones and Walker, it was brought to my attention that with regards to the ease at which one can contract Mesothelioma, it can hypothetically take only the most fleeting contact with the Amphibole or Serpentine fibers which make up Asbestos to inflict the necessary damage. In laymans terms; only one tiny fibre in the lungs is enough. As Asbestos can take between 15 and 40 years to slowly inflict its terminal damage upon a victim, there is a convenient amount of time in which many companies can distance themselves from the blame, making it one of the most common and difficult claims in the UK. This deadly and tenacious substance is not the kind of thing that should be being broken apart manually by impoverished workers who are likely to have little to no idea of the huge dangers of exposure. It needs to be taken apart safely, in the Uk if needs be, by professional people who are experienced in Asbestos removal and are not going to be putting themselves at any significant risk. To dismiss it as making 'Britain the dumping ground for other countries waste' is to completely ignore the humanitarian issues as hand in favour of political principle. I don’t know how many people are familiar with Asbestos Toxicity, the town my family are from, Rochdale, had one of the largest Asbestos factories in Europe at the beginning of the last century. Since then it has been a serious stigma in the small Lancashire town, with a series of documentaries focused on the effects Asbestos exposure had on its workers.
The worst of the possible health implications regarding exposure to Asbestos fibers is the development of Mesothelioma, there are 3 different types of the disease. According to the Thompsons Website, Pleural Mesothelioma is ‘the most common, and is caused by inhaling asbestos fibres into the lungs. A tumour forms on the lining (pleura) of the lungs, which makes breathing difficult and painful….Unfortunately, there is no cure for mesothelioma and after diagnosis victims may only have a short time to live. It will usually be investigated whether surgery…would be worthwhile; however, mesothelioma is considered to be a terminal illness.’
After speaking to industrial claim solicitors Russell Jones and Walker, it was brought to my attention that with regards to the ease at which one can contract Mesothelioma, it can hypothetically take only the most fleeting contact with the Amphibole or Serpentine fibers which make up Asbestos to inflict the necessary damage. In laymans terms; only one tiny fibre in the lungs is enough.
As Asbestos can take between 15 and 40 years to slowly inflict its terminal damage upon a victim, there is a convenient amount of time in which many companies can distance themselves from the blame, making it one of the most common and difficult claims in the UK.
This deadly and tenacious substance is not the kind of thing that should be being broken apart manually by impoverished workers who are likely to have little to no idea of the huge dangers of exposure. It needs to be taken apart safely, in the Uk if needs be, by professional people who are experienced in Asbestos removal and are not going to be putting themselves at any significant risk. To dismiss it as making ‘Britain the dumping ground for other countries waste’ is to completely ignore the humanitarian issues as hand in favour of political principle.

]]> http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/wtf-vessel-too-toxic-for-bangladeshi-ship-breakers-sent-to-uk/1369/comment-page-1#comment-65908 bookmole Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:46:53 +0000 http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/wtf-vessel-too-toxic-for-bangladeshi-ship-breakers-sent-to-uk/1369#comment-65908 It is better that we do it, with our checks and balances, and Health & Safety, than some unlearned villager. It is better that we do it, with our checks and balances, and Health & Safety, than some unlearned villager.

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