Recent reports have revealed that illegally imported cigarettes sold under the counter in Nottingham have been found to contain asbestos.

The contamination is thought to originate from the eastern-Asia factories where the ‘Jin Ling’ brand cigarettes have been manufactured. Although asbestos has been banned in the UK since the year 2000, it is still used in other parts of the world.

Asbestos was used in the filter tips of certain popular brands of cigarettes decades ago, today the full dangers of asbestos inhalation, including the risk of contracting lung cancer and mesothelioma are more fully understood. Studies have also shown that people who smoke who are also heavily exposed to asbestos have an even higher risk of contracting lung cancer.

Read more at the “This is Nottingham” website.

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Feature image “Dirty Mouth” courtesy of Martin Brent Photography
Winner of Sony World Photography Awards – Advertising Photographer of The Year 2010.