Debbie Brewer, from Plymouth, has sadly died from mesothelioma which she believed was caused from exposure to asbestos dust brought home by her father. Her father was an asbestos lagger at Devonport Dockyard between 1963 and 1966, and she said his job involved scraping asbestos from pipes. She believed she was exposed as a child when she hugged and spent time with her father when he came home from the dockyard covered in dust. It was the only time she came across asbestos dust. Her father died of asbestos related lung cancer in August 2006.
 
In 2007 Mrs Brewer was successful in a claim against the Ministry of Defence, which owned the dockyard when her father was there. She became a campaigner to raise awareness about the dangers of asbestos dust and she launched a website to offer support to other suffers.
 
It is important that we continue to raise awareness of this terrible disease and the dangers of asbestos dust to ensure that future generations are protected against developing asbestos related diseases. We need to raise awareness of the circumstances in which someone can be exposed to asbestos dust. Mrs Brewer did not handle asbestos herself yet she was exposed to asbestos dust in the safety of her own home. The government and employers need to show more commitment to ensuring the safety of their employees and the general public, and we hope more people will speak up, if not for themselves, then for their children, grandchildren and future generations.
 
For further information relating to Mrs Brewer and the dangers of asbestos dust please visit http://www.bbc.co.uk