Died Woman might have been Exposed to Asbestos
Reports say that Hazel Lea of Martello Road, who died from a lung cancer when she was 60, might have been exposed to the mortal material asbestos while washing the work clothes of her husband.
As per postmortem report, there were multiple tumour deposits in her right lung and the death of Hazel was caused by bronchopneumonia due to mesothelioma.
Anthony Lea, the widower of Mrs. Lea said that his wife had done several jobs such as a roller for Birdseye, in a warehouse. However, he believes that her contact with asbestos was from his work-dress. He was married to Mrs. Lea for 41 years. He was often coming home covered in dust from Spray Finishing Limited, one of the companies he had worked with, where he had been cutting asbestos sheets, he remembers.
"I used to take my clothes off and she would shake them and wash them. The dust from the clothes was like a fog," said Mr. Lea.
Mr. Lea worked with Spray Finishing Limited, based in Eastbourne between 1960 and 1992. On behalf of the company, a barrister asked him whether there was any other employment from where he had to come covered in asbestos dust.
"As far as I know, this was the only job where I had to work on asbestos, though I have come in contact with mud during the jobs in some building sites," Mr. Lea replied.
Mr Lea is currently suffering from some serious respiratory problems.
Coroner Alan Craze who recorded a narrative verdict said that Mrs Lea's exposure to asbestos might have been from washing her husband's work clothes.
