New research shows that older carpenters who were heavily exposed to asbestos before they were 30 have a one in 10 chance of dying from mesothelioma or asbestos related lung cancer.

The risk for plumbers, electricians and decorators of developing mesothelioma is one in 50 and for other construction workers the risk is one in 125.

The latest research, undertaken by Professor Julian Peto of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine, shows a much higher risk of developing mesothelioma than previously thought, especially among building workers.

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Alan Ritchie, General Secretary of construction union UCATT, said: "The research is deeply disturbing and confirms the fears of our members about their risk of dying from asbestos. It is vital that the research is used to step up campaigns and prosecutions to ensure that workers are properly protected and are no longer exposed to asbestos."

Mr Ritchie, added: "It is scandalous that construction workers who are now most at risk of dying from asbestos were those who were young men in the 1960’s and 1970’s, working unprotected with a substance that bosses and the authorities were already aware was lethal."

The report has also found that the UK has the highest death rate from asbestos in the world.

Mr Ritchie, further added:"It is time that the Government took seriously deaths from asbestos, which mainly affect working class people. If this was a middle class disease then compensation would be higher and easier to obtain, the guilty would have been punished and prevention measures would be far stronger."

(CD/JM)