ASBESTOS poisoning claimed the lives of 58 people — including 31 women — in Blackburn and Darwen in a 19-year period.
Figures from the Health and Safety Executive have been released to raise awareness of a new campaign that has labelled asbestos “The Hidden Killer”.
The figures, for the years 1981 to 2000, also showed there were 21 deaths in Rossendale, 27 in Pendle, 18 in Ribble Valley, 22 in Hyndburn, and 15 in Burnley.
The executive said the material, seen by many as no longer posing a threat, was still a real danger for builders and plumbers as it could exist in any building built before 2000.
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