THE peak of the mesothelioma epidemic is yet to come, experts have warned.

The asbestos-related cancer, or Swindon Disease as it has become known because of the large number of former railway workers that died from its exposure, will claim thousands more lives in the years to come.

An article published in the latest issue of the British Medial Journal claims that one on every hundred men born in the 1940s will die of mesothelioma and there are now around 1,800 deaths from the disease every year.

But more worrying is the fact that because asbestos exposure continued into the late 1980s the worst is yet to come.

Brigitte Chandler, 52, an industrial disease lawyer with Old Town-based solicitors Charles Lucas and Marshall, said: "This is something I have known about for a while. In the past Swindon has always had a high level of asbestos-related death compared to other towns across the country and one thought claims would be reducing.

"I have brought thousands of asbestos claims, but now I am seeing more construction industry claims we haven't seen the end of it and certainly not the peak.

"It's all very sad and I have seen a lot of real heartache over the years, but it is going to continue and unfortunately there is nothing anyone can do unless doctors find a cure."

Swindon's railway works closed in 1986 and many former employees who worked in the different shops as turners, fitters and enginemen recall throwing asbestos snowballs oblivious to the danger.

And their wives remember washing boiler suits and work clothes caked in asbestos. They too could be in danger of contracting the deadly disease.

The versatility and availability of asbestos made it a convenient construction industry material. Although today there are strict controls over how it can be used, not so long ago asbestos was frequently found on roofs, floor tiles, partitioning, break linings on cars and as pipe insulation.

Mesothelioma is a slow growing tumour that causes grave pain for sufferers who complain of breathlessness and chest pains.

In the BMJ article Professor Tom Treasure, who works at the cardiothoracic unit at London's Guy's Hospital, said there was nothing doctors could do for men who were exposed to asbestos in the 1940s, 50s, 60s and 70s. And he said is estimated around 100,000 people alive today will die of mesothelioma.

The peak of the epidemic is expected between 2015 and 2020 when the likely death rate will be around 2,000 a year, experts have predicted.

In April last year a memorial garden to honour the victims of mesothelioma was opened in Queen's Park after Advertiser readers helped raise more than £12,000.

gsheldrick@newswilts.co.uk