Asbestos News

A UK grandfather of five and former plumber died as a result of asbestos exposure as he did not wear any protection from the dangerous mineral fibers, the Derby Evening Telegraph reports.

Ronald Kirkland reportedly worked for a number of companies across Derby, UK, including responsibilities such as removing insulation and pipes that contained asbestos.

Still, Kirkland's wife said her husband did not express any regrets about his decision to become a plumber, a job that he reportedly enjoyed doing on a daily basis.

"Had he known about the dangers, he would have still done that job, but with greater protection," added his son, Stephen Kirkland.

Dr. Andrew Hitchcock, a consultant pathologist at Royal Derby Hospital, told an inquest that Ronald Kirkland ultimately died of lung cancer, which was a result of his exposure to asbestos.

In addition to lung cancer, asbestos exposure can cause asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the tissues surrounding many of the body's internal organs.