60,000 more to die of asbestos

The stark warning came as hundreds of families affected by the killer disease attended an event to mark Mesothelioma Awarness Day.

Successive governments, negligent employers and penny-pinching insurers have all conspired to attempt to deny justice for the victims of asbestosis.

An estimated 30,000 have died so far from exposure to the deadly fibres and the number of people who will contract the fatal illness is set to increase in coming years.

Mesothelioma is a fatal tumour found mainly in the lung pleura, for which there is no cure. Average life expectancy is approximately 12 months. In 2007 alone 2,167 people died from the disease.

Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims Support Group director Tony Whitston told the Star: "There is an absolute necessity for research to provide better treatment and improved palliative care.

"It is absolutely imperative that resources are found to provide hope for people suffering with this horrific illness.

"It is the most important issue of the day."

Mr Whitston said the new government had a responsibility to act.

"The need hasn't changed but there is a reluctance (by government) to engage positively on this issue," he said.

"We are not optimistic that the new government will be better but today is also about looking to the future and being positive. We have to stay positive for the sake of those who are suffering.

"There needs to be a real change of attitude. These people have been let down for decades by past governments, employers and insurers. It is institutional negligence. There is a moral onus on any government to take responsibility."

Speaking prior to yesterday's event in Manchester, mesothelioma sufferer Cyril Jennings stated: "This shocking disease has had a devastating effect on my family and thousands of other families. Much more should be done to improve care for people who suffer this disease which has been caused by the disgraceful negligence of employers for decades and decades."

According to research from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) construction workers are worst affected by past exposure to asbestos.

The HSE has estimated that one in 10 carpenters born in the 1940s with more than 10 years of work in the industry will die of mesothelioma.

Despite Britain finally banning the use of asbestos in 2000, global trade in the carcinogen remains strong.

Before the ban, 60 per cent of asbestos in Britain came from Canada. Much of the trade has now moved to the developing world.

In recent years countries such as Angola, Argentina, India, Mexico, Nigeria and Thailand have all recorded increased use of asbestos products.

On Thursday construction union Ucatt staged a demonstration against Canada's continued exportation of asbestos at the country's embassy in London.

Ucatt leader Alan Ritchie said: "It is disgraceful that Canada continues to wilfully produce and export a deadly substance.

"It is essential that nationally and internationally unions and other sympathetic groups increase the pressure on Canada to end this lethal trade once and for all."