Data reveals impact of deadly asbestos-related cancer in Swindon as inquiry is launched Asbestos-related cancer has claimed the lives of more than 250 people in Swindon over almost four decades, new figures reveal. MPs have launched an inquiry into how the material is being managed across the UK after serious safety concerns were raised. Exposure to asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a type of cancer which affects the lining of some organs, including the lungs. Health and Safety Executive data shows the disease was responsible for 285 deaths in Swindon between 1981 and 2019 – the latest available figures. Of those, 52 occurred between 2015 and 2019 – two fewer than in 2010-14.