Cancer News, Treatment and Research

Police in Carlisle, England have reported that an unknowing thief ran off with a Numatic-brand vacuum cleaner that was filled with toxic asbestos debris taken from the old Richard Rose premises on Edgehill Road in Harraby, Carlisle. According to a BBC article, the thief (or thieves) broke into a classroom in the building and removed a total of six vacuums. Police found five of the machines in another room but the sixth was missing. Officers could only assume that the burglar absconded with that one, not knowing that he may be putting himself in serious harm’s way if he attempts to empty the machine of its asbestos contents. All six industrial vacuums had been used during renovation work at the Richard Rose premises and were sitting untended when the robber broke in, most likely between the hours of 5 pm and 9 am when workers had already left for the day. It is likely, police say, that the thief is unaware of what was inside the machine, which is why they issued a warning via a variety of media outlets, stressing that the machine should not be touched and certainly not opened. It isn’t unusual to find asbestos-containing materials in older homes and commercial buildings, both in England and in the United States as well as in many other countries around the world. The mineral was used in the manufacture of hundreds of building products, most notably tiles and insulation . Anyone who comes in contact with asbestos dust from damaged, friable asbestos might inhale the tiny particles, which can cause cancerous tumors to form and may result in a diagnosis of mesothelioma or some other serious respiratory disease. Officers are asking anyone who knows anything about the theft to contact them immediately.