A MAN who died from a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos had contact with the natural mineral while working in the air conditioning industry 40 years earlier.
William Carlos (60), Dooneen, Ballinameen, Boyle, Co Roscommon, died at St James’s Hospital on December 3rd, 2009.
His wife Bernadette Carlos told an inquest into his death at Dublin City Coroner’s Court that Mr Carlos, who was a farmer for most of his life, had told her he was exposed to asbestos while working in Britain.
He said on one occasion that he was cutting tiles and it came down on top of him.
Mr Carlos presented at hospital with breathlessness in April 2008.
He was subsequently diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a cancer that has a high association with asbestos exposure.
Mr Carlos had surgery at Leicester University Hospital in Britain in October 2008 and he also had chemotherapy in Ireland.
By the summer of 2009 it was clear the tumour, which is aggressive, had recurred.
Prof Ken O’Byrne at St James’s Hospital said the feeling among experts now was that nearly all malignant mesotheliomas were due to asbestos exposure.
There could be a latent period of between 20 and 60 years between the exposure and manifestation of the illness.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said he was satisfied Mr Carlos died of complications of malignant mesothelioma, including pneumonia, which he developed as a result of exposure to asbestos during the deceased’s working life in Britain.
He recorded a verdict of death due to occupational-related disease. “I’m afraid it goes back to this exposure during his working life in the UK,” said the coroner, who expressed his condolences to his wife and daughter who were in court. Mr Carlos also had two sons.