Recently it has been discovered that around half of the UK's homeowners are
oblivious to the fact that asbestos and asbestos containing materials may be present in their homes. Some materials were even used up until the 1990's. The danger asbestos poses should not be underestimated.
The British Lung Foundation has recently carried out a survey which has prompted them to issue a warning to people carrying out DIY in their homes. A survey of 2000 homeowners has shown that a third of homeowners in the North West thought that asbestos had been removed from residential properties.
Often asbestos is discovered in things such as floor tiles, carpets, boiler insulation, textured ceilings and toilet cisterns.
Just 27% of the people who answered the survey indicated that they would check their home for possible asbestos before carrying out any DIY jobs.
14 million homes across the UK are thought to have been constructed when asbestos materials were being used routinely. Due to this figure the charity is now aiming to emphasize the importance of being aware of asbestos in the home. The charity are hoping that by knowing about the risks people will take precautions and cut the risk of inhaling deadly particles which can cause mesothelioma cancer to occur many years later.
In the UK asbestos related cancer Mesothelioma kills one person every five hours. The British Lung Foundation along with Craig Philips has high hopes for their new campaign. Mr Philips, the winner of Big Brother 1 and a regular TV face has direct experience of working in the construction industry and has seen firsthand the effects asbestos can have on people.
The new survey has discovered that almost half of all North West based home owners are unaware of asbestos and the risk it poses in their homes. The charity is now aiming to highlight the risk and educate people on the dangers. There is still a long way to go in the fight against asbestos but the new campaign is set to create a lot more awareness.