Asbestos concerns raised by inquest

12:29pm Tuesday 25th March 2008

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AN inquest has raised questions into the incidence of naturally occuring mesothelioma, a cancer associated with exposure to asbestos.

Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg addressed the issue during an inquest on Thursday into the death of 65-year-old Raymond Williamson, of Halton Road, in Great Sankey, who died at Warrington Hospital from mesothelioma last July 20.

The inquest heard it was ambiguous how and when Mr Williamson, a retired lecturer at both Liverpool and Manchester universities, could have been exposed to the toxic dust.

His brother, Kenneth, presented several theories including the possibility that he was exposed while conducting research on lasers in the 1960s.

But what was more baffling was that a post-mortem examination did not reveal any asbestos fibres in his body although there was evidence of mesothelioma in the lining of Mr Williamson's lung and abdomen.

Dr Mohammed Al-Jafari, who conducted the post-mortem, said: "Up to 10 to 15 per cent of mesotheliomas are not related to asbestos exposure but if there is any suggestion of asbestos exposure, even very brief or mild, that would override the posssibility of non-asbestos- related mesothelioma."

Mr Rheinberg recorded an open verdict, saying: "It is impossible for me to say whether he died of natural or unnatural causes.

"There is nothing obviously outstanding to suggest asbestos exposure albeit there are a number of possibilies.

"But what is quite extraordinary is that while most of us would have shown up evidence of asbestos exposure because we live in an industrial society, not one fibre was found."