3:40pm Thursday 7th August 2008
By Emma Clark
A RETIRED plumbing and heating engineer died decades after exposure to deadly asbestos.
At an inquest today, Coroner Edward Thomas explained how Ian Jackson, 72, of Foxcroft, St Albans, had worked directly with the substance used to insulate homes during his career.
After complaining of chest pains, doctors discovered in October last year that he was suffering from Malignant Mesothelioma - a rare form of cancer often caused by exposure to asbestos particles.
A tumour was encasing his left lung making it difficult for him to breathe, and despite initially responding well to radiotherapy treatment he died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on May 28 this year.
Mr Thomas recorded a death verdict of industrial disease, and the cause of death Malignant Mesothelioma due to exposure to brown asbestos.
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