Asbestos: killer disease

Asbestos-related cancer kills around one person every four hours in the UK. And more than 1.8 million people are exposed to deadly asbestos every year.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, at least 5000 deaths from mesothelioma a year are expected by 2015 - but that, say some experts, is a conservative estimate. Almost every building constructed before 1999 will have asbestos used in its construction, often in insulated boards and ceiling tiles.

Tom Marshall, a lawyer specialising in asbestos-related conditions working with Glasgow-based Thomson Solicitors says it's often difficult to identify where female mesothelioma patients first came into contact with the substance. "They do not historically carry out the types of work that would automatically come into contact with asbestos, such as engineering or building. Because of that, they are also less likely to be aware of the risks."