Confronting Britain’s Asbestos Epidemic
On July 1, 2026, in the run-up to this year’s Action Mesothelioma Day, Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) 503 recognized the personal cost of the national asbestos legacy, acknowledged that July 3 was Action Mesothelioma Day, paid tribute to all the groups working throughout the country to support asbestos victims and called on the former asbestos giant Cape PLC to contribute £10 million towards mesothelioma research. As of July 7, 27 MPs had signed the EDM: 16 Labour, 4 Greens, 4 Plaid Cymru, 2 Liberal Democrats and 1 from the Democratic Unionist Party.1
The same day the EDM was tabled, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) confirmed that thousands of Britons continued to die every year from the signature asbestos cancer, mesothelioma. In 2024, there were 2,146 mesothelioma deaths in Great Britain, 83% of which (1,771) were male and 17% female (375). According to the data: “Over 70% of annual deaths for both males and females now occur in those aged over 75 years. Annual deaths in this age group continue to increase while deaths below age 65 are decreasing.”2
It is noteworthy that Britons are also dying from other diseases caused by asbestos exposures including asbestosis and a variety of cancers. In fact, research from Scotland recently revealed that cumulative asbestos mortality far exceeded HSE’s predictions of 5,000+ per year.3 According to a commentary by Professor Daniel Murphy, a more realistic estimate for the number of asbestos-related deaths/ year would be ~25,000, five times the HSE’s figure.
These deaths are the result of asbestos exposures at work and at home decades ago. Unfortunately, exposures to asbestos-containing materials within the national infrastructure continue as the majority of schools and hospitals and pre-1999 public buildings remain unremediated.4
Since the beginning of this year, another source of exposure has been making headline news. Over the last seven months, the UK Government and population have been grappling with the issues posed by the sale of asbestos-contaminated play sand, playsets, toys and decorative home furnishings at retail shops and via online portals.
 Following a report in The Guardian which confirmed that asbestos-contaminated colored sand had been identified in the Giant Box of Craft sold by the nationwide chain Hobbycraft, the above product became the first one recalled by the UK authorities in 2026.5 |
As of July 7, 47 asbestos recalls have been uploaded to the UK’s Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) portal.6 Whilst 47 recalls may not seem that impressive – after all, currently, the European Commission’s Safety Gate Alert system has issued 56 recalls7 – according to calculations by The Sun newspaper, when all the different models and variations of recalled products were taken into account the total number of asbestos-contaminated items withdrawn from sale in the UK was 166.8
 Weirdo Toys, containing asbestos-contaminated sand, was one of the two products recalled by the OPSS on July 6, 2026. These two recalls withdrew a total of 13 toxic products from UK markets. Another product was recalled the following day.9 |
For decades Action Mesothelioma Day – observed on the first Friday after July 1– has been a calendar fixture for asbestos victim support groups and cancer charities across the UK. I remember torrential downpours, thick cloud cover and the occasional burst of sunshine. Judging by the photos received this year, there was clement weather throughout the country.
 The doves seemed fairly chilled out in Portsmouth, England at the AMD event of the HASAG Asbestos Disease Support. Picture courtesy of HASAG. |
 In Cardiff, Wales dozens of members of Asbestos Awareness and Support Cymru (AASC) gathered at Insole Court, a Grade II listed Mansion House, for indoor and outdoor segments of the AMD program. They were joined by guests from three weddings that were being held at the stunning venue. Photographs courtesy of AASC. |
 The sun brought out the vibrant colors of the floral tributes at the AMD event held by Action on Asbestos, formerly Clydeside Action on Asbestos, in Glasgow, Scotland. Picture courtesy of Action on Asbestos. |
 From the left: Sarah Thomas, Mesothelioma UK benefits manager, Joanne Anderson, Mesothelioma UK specialist nurse, Samantha Cox, CoFounder of the Readley Asbestos and Mesothelioma Support Group, MP Ian Lavery, Chair of the Parliamentary Asbestos Sub-Group, Leah Taylor, Head of Nursing for Mesothelioma UK and Helen Wallace, Mesothelioma UK Specialist Nurse, at the Readley AMD event in Whitely Bay. Picture courtesy of the Readley Group. |
 The AMD event in Everard’s Meadows, Leicester, England held by Mesothelioma UK had a very special dress code – “Go Blue for Mesothelioma!” Picture courtesy of Mesothelioma UK (Enlarge this image). |
As this was the last AMD Mesothelioma UK’s CEO Liz Darlison would chair – she is moving on to pastures new this Autumn – she was feeling a bit nostalgic. When asked her thoughts about how things had changed over her many years at the helm of one of the UK’s leading asbestos cancer charities, she said:
“Twenty years of AMD, so many years to reflect on. I feel a mixture of pride, sadness, anger and frustration but mostly privilege. Mesothelioma UK has created a fabulous package of support and information and is making huge strides in promoting equitable access to treatment and care. The charity has given voice to so many patients and families, but I am sad we haven’t moved the dial further. Still too many people are exposed to asbestos, they are not aware of the dangers posed in their day-to-day life here in the UK. I am appalled successive governments haven’t addressed the UK’s shocking asbestos disaster.
Above all on AMD I am overwhelmed by the memories of the amazing people I have met and cared for along the way, their families, loved ones and friends. How privileged am I that I got to be in the room, doing my bit, for a community that tragically shouldn’t even exist.” 10
I know we all wish her the very best luck in her coming endeavors.
July 9, 2026
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1 Early Day Motion (EDM) 503. Action Mesothelioma Day 2026.
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/66219
2 HSE. Mesothelioma statistics for Great Britain, 2026. July, 2026.
https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/mesothelioma.pdf
3 Murphy, D. Have We Underestimated the Cancer Risk from Asbestos? March 27, 2026.
https://www.bohs.org/media-resources/faam-newsletter-article/detail/have-we-underestimated-the-cancer-risk-from-asbestos/
Also see: Boggan, S. Britain’s fresh asbestos nightmare: How terrifying new research reveals deaths could be FOUR times higher than previously thought - as families of victims speak out. June 3, 2026. [Subscription site]:
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15868809/asbestos-nightmare-terrifying-new-research-deaths-Britain.html
4 Molloy, L. Schools and healthcare buildings among the places in Vale of Glamorgan found to contain asbestos. July 7, 2026.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/schools-healthcare-buildings-among-those-34250848
Butterly, L. Hundreds of tonnes of asbestos found at 224 sites across Northern Ireland - including 120 tonnes at controversial bonfire site. July 8, 2026.
https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/hundreds-of-tonnes-of-asbestos-found-at-224-sites-across-northern-ireland-since-2018-UQB2CQLV4REJ3DU5T6DS4IQXHQ/
5 Tims, Anna. Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK. January 24, 2026.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jan/24/childrens-play-sand-hobbycraft-asbestos-removed-recall
OPSS. Product Recall: Hobbycraft Giant Box of Craft (2601-0364). January 27, 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-hobbycraft-giant-box-of-craft-2601-0364
6 OPSS. Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls: Asbestos. July 7, 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls?keywords=asbestos+&product_alert_type%5B%5D=product-recall&product_recall_alert_date%5Bfrom%5D=01/01/2026
7 European Commission. Safety Gate: the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products: search word asbestos. July 7, 2026.
https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/search
8 Mableson, A. Cancer-causing asbestos is found in 13 MORE products sold in UK as shoppers warned to ‘stop using immediately.’ July 6, 2026. The Sun article said 151 products were withdrawn from sale as of July 6 but with the recall on July 7, the total number is now 166.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/39665939/cancer-asbestos-products-warning-13-new/
9 OPSS. Product Recall: Sand-Filled Weirdo Toys sold via Amazon (2607-0036). July 6, 2026.
“Hazard: The product presents a risk to health as the sand within the toy may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos.”
https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-sand-filled-weirdo-toys-sold-via-amazon-2607-0036
OPSS. Product Recall: John Lewis & Partners Doorstops & Draught Excluders (2607-0052). July 7, 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/product-safety-alerts-reports-recalls/product-recall-john-lewis-and-partners-doorstops-and-draught-excluders-2607-0052
10 Email from Liz Darlison. July 7, 2026.
