Ireland Opens First Asbestos Centers

October 4, 2006 - Northern Ireland has established its first center in East Belfast to aid victims of asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases. 

The watch-dog group, Justice for Asbestos Victims, responsible for the center, estimates that there are about 3,000 known cases of asbestos disease in Northern Ireland and, says spokesperson Brian Lee, there are several thousand individuals who do not yet realize they are affected.

"There's probably 3,000 that we know of, but there is probably another 6,000 that don't know themselves," Lee told the BBC. "They will manifest as time passes because it takes up to 40 years for it to manifest. In my case, for instance, I got mine in the late 50s early 60s and now I'm 70 so this is the sort of time it takes to manifest itself."

Mr. Lee, who is from Dundonald, is a former shipyard worker and believes his exposure happened on-the-job.  He was diagnosed with pleural plaques - a scarring of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure – while undergoing tests prior to by-pass surgery, Lee explained.

Mr. Lee said shipyard workers were largely unaware of the dangers posed by their everyday jobs.

"One type [of asbestos] was like snow and we used to pack it together like snowballs and throw it at each other, not realizing the danger we were putting ourselves in," he said.

"Certainly companies didn't make ourselves aware of it and this is why today they have to pay out compensation."

Lee believes the new center, which will offer information as well as emotional support, will serve to spread awareness of the diseases caused by asbestos exposure and prompt former shipyard workers to undergo regular testing so as to catch any diseases that may develop as early as possible.