ASBESTOS-RELATED cancer has claimed the lives of more than 450 people in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over almost four decades, new figures reveal.

MPs have launched an inquiry into how the material is being managed across the UK after serious safety concerns were raised.

Exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a type of cancer which affects the lining of some organs, including the lungs.

Health and Safety Executive data shows the disease was responsible for 460 deaths in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole between 1981 and 2019 – the latest available figures.

Of those, 110 occurred between 2015 and 2019.

This is the highest number of deaths recorded in any five-year period since records began and 26 more than in 2010-2014.

A spokesperson for BCP council said: “The council has a programme of identification and removal of asbestos in its own buildings, which also forms part of a wider programme of repurposing and disposal of offices and other building assets.

“Whilst asbestos risks are rarely identified, remedial action and immediate safety precautions will always be instigated to ensure the safety of staff, tenants and customers.

“Environmental Health Officers regularly provided advice to employers and residents upon request, and occasionally have had cause to take enforcement action against those who fail to comply with their duties and responsibilities.”

The Work and Pensions Committee, which launched the inquiry, said that despite the importation, supply and use of asbestos being banned in the UK since 1999, it remains the largest single cause of work-related fatalities.

More than 5,000 deaths each year are caused by diseases linked to asbestos exposure, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

The inquiry will examine the risks posed by asbestos in the workplace, the actions taken by the HSE to mitigate them and how its approach compares to those taken in other countries.

Liz Darlison, CEO of charity Mesothelioma UK, said she was shocked at the figures, which show that 12,500 people died of mesothelioma in Great Britain in 2015-19 – the highest number for any previous five-year period.

She added poor asbestos management led to "public health disaster number one".

"Our country is riddled with the stuff and we have to address this if we want to protect future generations," she said.

"We need a long-term, government-led initiative to remove asbestos, even if it takes several generations."