Former Policeman Developed Mesothelioma, Even Though the Disease is Known as an 'Industrial Illness'

Frank Dodd was not a shipyard worker or a pipefitter. He was not a chemical worker, construction worker or even a navy veteran, all of which are careers that have been known to involve asbestos exposure. He was a policeman. However, like many who worked in one of the previously listed professions, Dodd died from what the Deputy Coroner for Birmingham called an 'industrial illness.' In July of 2009, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs that is caused by asbestos exposure. He died less than two months later. His wife is still determined to learn how and why her policeman husband could contract a disease that is typically associated with industrial professions and less frequently associated with public service careers like police and firefighting. Asbestos in the Workplace According to the wife's recollections, Dodd's role as a policeman often involved being around asbestos. "He told me about one time they were clearing a room in Digbeth police station in the 1970s that was full of it. I know he would have also been exposed to it while at Steelhouse Lane police station when they removed asbestos from there," said Frances Dodd. She continued by stating that her legal representatives have obtained witness statements from other retired policemen that help prove that asbestos removal was a frequent occurrence while Dodd was on the force. Dodd's wife remains dedicated to determining the cause of this tragedy, while also trying to inform and def...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure & Bans Source Type: news