A plumber from Lewisham, England, has thrown his support behind a government initiative to protect future generations from asbestos exposure. Chris Morgan is suffering from mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma can take decades to develop once a first has been exposed to asbestos fibers. The cancer can kill within mere months, with the average patient expected to live not longer than 2 years after being diagnosed.

According to a report released by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, or HSE, between 1981 and 2005 asbestos-related ailments claimed the lives of hundreds of people in and around Lewisham, located near London.

Morgan, age 58, says “I think it’s absolutely disgusting there are people still being exposed to this material. They need to learn what asbestos looks like. If they come across something that looks like it could be asbestos they should report it and not disturb it until they know for sure. It is best to be wrong and live than to take a chance and die.”

The HSE has launched a campaign known as “Asbestos: The Hidden Killer”, aimed at educating the workers of the United Kingdom about the dangers of asbestos exposure. HSE official Stephen Williams has said, “Asbestos is Britain’s biggest industrial killer…claiming the lives of 4,000 people every year.” It has been estimated that half a million buildings throughout the United Kingdom may contain asbestos.”

Williams went on to say that the number does not include homes and apartments. About 20 people are dying from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma each week in the United Kingdom, and that number is expected to increase in the coming years.

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