Thank you for your post.

Many people do contact us with enquiries similar to yours about asbestos and I can appreciate, that once you may have read something about asbestos, it can become a worry.

However, It's worth remembering that asbestos is a very common substance and most people are exposed to a very small amount of asbestos fibres in their lives, yet asbestos related diseases are uncommon. So if you can, try and not get overly worried by this. Low levels are present in our environment as it can be found in air and soil and yet very few people become ill - those who do, are exposed to higher levels in the work place over a very long period of time, years and decades usually.

It's our understanding that the highest risk group of people at risk of getting an asbestos related cancer like mesothelioma (which is still quite a rare cancer) are those who have been exposed to asbestos while working in manufacturing, construction and engineering using asbestos. This could be over a period of time of 20,30 or 40 years.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (which is really about health and safety at work), short term exposures with asbestos will most likely have led to minimal exposure to fibres and is very unlikely to have any long-term ill health effects.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

I hope this will have reassured you and you can try and put this worry behind you

Kind Regards

Vanda