Asbestos was the direct cause of death in five cases since 2016, the coroner’s office has revealed.

In 2016, there was one recorded death at inquest, with two in 2017 and the same so far in 2018.

A spokesperson said: ’By way of context, in any case where exposure to asbestos is cited as the direct cause of death, such as asbestosis, mesotheliom, the death is reported to the coroner and an inquest held.’

The figures do not record the number of Manx residents who suffer from asbestos related diseases and in the case of someone with a related disease but who dies from another event, such as a heart attack, this would not be recorded as industrial cause.

As asbestos is a historic like disease in that exposure and diagnosis can be decades apart, it cannot be assumed that the cause was in the island as its use was worldwide and as such, exposure could’ve occurred at any time.

The spokesperson added: ’During the inquests, the individuals’ work history would have been reviewed, but the verdicts don’t tell us where or when the exposure occurred.’