Asbestos News

A coroner in Hartlepool, England, recorded an open verdict on the death of retired industrial worker Robert Kelly, according to the Hartlepool Mail. The news source reports that Coroner Malcolm Donnelly decided on an open verdict after he was unable to determine that asbestos exposure contributed to Kelly’s death.

Although the 78-year-old died of pneumonia, he also suffered from underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to the news agency. Kelly was a retired lagger who worked with insulation and was exposed to asbestos in the course of his work.

COPD most commonly develops in smokers, but exposure to certain toxins in the workplace, such as asbestos, has been found to increase the risk of developing COPD, according to PubMed Health. The pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination on Kelly found the presence of asbestos in his lungs was not excessively high.

Donnelly stated he was unable to say with any certainty that asbestos was a factor in Kelly’s death, reports the Hartlepool Mail.

Regardless of the findings in this particular case, asbestos kills 107,000 people around the world each year through diseases such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.