Mesothelioma news
27/06/2008

Asbestos cancer found in pensioner, source a mystery

A Wiltshire newspaper reported on a mystery mesothelioma case this week, after an inquest was performed on a pensioner who had died from the asbestos-related lung cancer.

The woman's history did not seem to include any period of working with asbestos; she had worked in a laundry and as a dinner lady, which could not be shown to have caused any exposure to the substance.

Her husband had worked on the UK railway network, but had been a linesman working outside and had not, to his knowledge, come into contact with the substance either.

The coroner recorded an open verdict that the woman had died from malignant pleural mesothelioma, but that it was not possible to determine if it was an industrial disease. This may well mean that it is impossible for any liability to be assigned, and therefore impossible for any asbestos compensation claim to be successful.