Asbestos Causes Death of 85 Year Old Ship Engineer at Queen Alexandra Hospital

> Beginning the late 1800s, asbestos was mined and used in many different industries all over North America, especially before the World War II. Examples of industry use include:

- Automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads.
- Building & construction industry uses asbestos for strengthening cement as well as sound absorption, roofing, insulation and fireproofing.
- Shipbuilding industry uses asbestos to insulate hot water pipes, boilers and steampipes... (Read More)

> About 2000 - 4000 Americans are diagnosed with Malignant Mesothelioma each year, and about 66% of those cases are of Pleural Mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma occurs when Cancer hits the lining of the lungs, also known as the 'Pleura.' The Pleura is a Sac which houses the lungs, and consists of a thin membrane called the 'mesothelium.' The mesothelium is a vital part of the lungs because it enables them to expand and contract when breathing by secreting a fluid. This fluid is located in the lungs and inside of the rib cage. If the Pleura or the Pleural fluid becomes damaged with Cancer, it makes it very hard for the patient to breathe, thus shortness of breath is a common symptom of Pleural mesothelioma... (Read More)

(January 22nd, 2010)

Portsmouth, UK - Francis Adams, a former ship Engineer who worked at the dockyard in Chatham, Kent during the 1940s passed away at Queen Alexandra hospital today, at the age of 85. The known cause of his death is malignant mesothelioma. An inquiry into the death discovered that Mr. Adams was exposed to high levels of Asbestos while working as a Ship engineer and stripping/lagging ship piping at a dockyard in Chatham, Kent, during the 1940s. From there, Mr. Adams worked at London's dockyards, where he was further exposed to Asbestos. His family relocated to Portsmouth, UK in the 1970s where he worked as a Manager at the Eastney Pumping Station, a station that stored diesel engines and storm water pumps. In November 2007, Mr. Adams developed a bad chest cough and was diagnosed as having a chest tumor in his left lung, which is a sign of Pleural Mesothelioma. Today, he was rushed to the Queen Alexandra hospital where he died instantly. A post mortem conducted on his lungs found there was severe scarring in his lungs as well his Arteries to the brain were narrowed or damaged. Furthermore, a large tumor was discovered in his left lung and his liver.

Carolyn Russell, Assistant Coroner at the Portsmouth and South East Hampshire Industrial plant quotes, "It is clear that Mr Adams suffered from mesothelioma, a condition likely to be caused by exposure to asbestos. It is very cruel that while he was trying to earn a living, he was exposed to asbestos and died in that way." His widow, Janet Adams quotes, "When he came home sometimes he was covered in white dust. The children used to run up to him when he came home from work."

This image on the right is of the Chatham Dockyard in Kent. It used to house 3 navy warships including the HMS Gannet from 1878, the destroyer HMS Cavalier from 1944, and the submarine HMS Ocelot built in 1962. It was at this dockyard where Mr. Adams repaired and built ships that can include yachts, cruise liners, military vessels or passenger ships.