As shown the asbestos spread over a vast area of Armley and 90 per cent of the homes tested within this area were still contaminated with the blue asbestos dust. There is a decontamination procedure but this costs £7500 per house, which most residents cannot afford. The asbestos dust is not harmful unless it is disturbed, however any DIY or redecoration would cause it to be disturbed. It can take up to 20 years for mesothelioma to become apparent and it has been claimed that meso will claim hundreds more victims over the next 20 years.