According to BBC news for Mid Wales, Bronglais Hospital has reported possible asbestos exposure in its facility. Although officials are sure no public areas of the hospital have been contaminated, they are attempting to contact past employees about the incident. Medical tests are being provided for workers who may have been exposed at the hospital.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that is known to cause severe respiratory illnesses including fatal cancer mesothelioma. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can become attached to otherwise healthy tissues and begin a mutative process leading to malignant tumor development. In malignant mesothelioma cases, patients typically undergo an extremely long latency period before mesothelioma symptoms demonstrate. This latency period often lasts between twenty and fifty years.
Many, if not most, mesothelioma patients have no idea they were ever exposed to asbestos and therefore have no reason to suspect they are developing cancer. In the case of Bronglais Hospital, possible exposure has been found and those associated will have a chance for prescreening—a rare occurrence in mesothelioma treatment stages.
About twenty thousand mesothelioma cases are reported worldwide each year. International medical officials suggest that this number is low as many cases are going unrecognized or unreported. Regardless of its obvious health hazards, asbestos continues to be used in dozens of countries, and often without proper safety precautions.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating the facilities “management of asbestos” at this time.
According to the BBC Mid Wales report, a spokesperson for the health board said, “I can give an assurance that systems and processes have been put in place across the health board to prevent this happening again. We would like to offer assurance that the asbestos was not in areas accessible to patients or the public. We are ensuring that all maintenance staff are involved in the HSE investigation and we continue to offer support and advice to those who have concerns.”
