Asbestos Legislation

The widow of a former Royal Navy engineer has lashed out at the UK government for allegedly withholding compensation from the families of victims of asbestos-related diseases, the Plymouth Herald reports.

After being exposed to a significant amount of asbestos while he worked on ships during the 1960s, Peter "Jan" Pearce of Ernesettle, UK, was diagnosed with pleural plaques in 2005. According to the news source, Pearce and his wife Eileen battled for compensation for five years following the diagnosis.

Shortly before the compensation was supposed to be awarded to the couple, the 70-year-old Pearce died in August of a separate condition, the news source said.

Now, Eileen has reportedly been told that the Ministry of Justice may actually take back the compensation offer because they do not always make the payments to the relatives of victims.

"Jan would have been shocked to think the money may not be paid. It's totally wrong," Eileen Pearce said. "If we don't get a satisfactory response we will be taking it to Parliament."

In addition to pleural plaques, asbestos exposure can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.