Illegal Asbestos Dumping In The UK

A British man has been arrested after allegedly disposing of asbestos in an illegal manner. The man, whose name has not yet been made public, is 49 years old. The man was taken into custody following dawn raid coordinated by police officers and Environment Agency officials.

A recent investigation by a UK newspaper revealed that a large amount of asbestos had been illegally dumped at a Thurrock Council highway depot. The asbestos debris in question originated from a church in north-west London. The asbestos material had been removed by T&S Multiservices, an asbestos removal company. T&S subsequently hired a sub-contractor to dispose of the asbestos waste. However, the asbestos debris never reached the intended destination: a landfill in Oxfordshire.

Asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos is also the cause of asbestosis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs that results in scarring and decreased respiratory function. Once commonly used as fireproofing, insulation, and other home uses, asbestos is now known to be a toxic substance.

The illegal dumping occurred about a month ago, and has been linked to nine other asbestos dumping incidents, six of which occurred at the same dumping site in Thurrock. Some reports have referred to these dumping incidents collectively as one of the worst cases of asbestos dumping on record in the United Kingdom.

The unnamed man has since been released on bail. Rita Penman, an Environment Agency spokesperson, further informed members of the press that: “On the same day, a number of premises were raided in Billericay and Basildon. More arrests are likely in the near future.”

Source: http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/4396866.Asbestos_tipping__Man_arrested/