More than 10,000 Australians died from rare cancer, mesothelioma caused by asbestos in the last 35 years. This means Australia has the worst death rate from this illness in the world, second only to the United Kingdom. It does not finish there. Cancer experts forecast a further 25,000 deaths in the next 40 years. There were 641 fatalities from mesothelioma, as well as asbestosis indicated by the figures associated deaths are gradually increasing.
Asbestos in Australia
Australia had a massive asbestos mining business until asbestos health risks became better recognized, centered mostly in West Australia, New South Wales and Queensland. The asbestos mining town Wittenoom in West Australia stands deserted as a strong reminder of its past. The area is too hazardous, and the West Australian government recently removed its position as a town. It stands to-day waiting to return to dust.
Use and the distribution of asbestos goods across Australia means it’s common with buildings and homes constructed before 1990. Since Australia banned asbestos of any kind in 2003, there has been more and more individuals diagnosed with asbestos-associated diseases (lung cancer and mesothelioma, for example) in every Australian state. Asbestos includes a latent period of between 20 and 30 years after exposure before symptoms can display up.
Where asbestos is found by you
Though Australia we talked about it lately here, asbestos is still everywhere. It was banned however for import, use, and creation in 2003. Its uses were varied and extensive, and asbestos might still be found in old products including:
- Cement sheeting used for structures, water, and sewerage pipes, as fire-protection products, to protect electrical wire and in switchboards, and for tanks for holding chemicals
- Asbestos paper employed in, components in small appliances and wire insulation, floor underlays mats utilized for warmth protection
- Asbestos textiles used in some packing materials, roofing components and heaters
- In parts like clutch facings and brake linings
- Sealants, ground paint and ceiling tiles, gaskets and packing items.
Asbestos round the home
Buying an old house may bring you issues if it has asbestos products. So how does one know? You cannot tell just by looking at asbestos. You need an expert Gladstone asbestos removal analysis to be positive. A home built after 1990 is unlikely to contain asbestos. Homes constructed from the mid-1980s to 1990 will possibly contain asbestos, and those built before the mid-1980s are very like have asbestos. So where are you probably to find it around your house? Here are some examples:
- Asbestos insulation around old water pipes and flues – these release dangerous fibres if not handled properly when removing or repairing them.
- Roofing components and shingles – these aren’t likely to release fibres until you drill, observed or cut them.
- Siding (Fibrolite goods, for example) and cladding for interior and exterior partitions (including the backing on some outdated brick cladding popular in the 1970 s).
- In fibro sheets underneath the eaves, therefore be careful when renovating as it will release dangerous fibres should you break it (nowadays contemporary fibre does not contain asbestos).
- Asbestos thermal boards around old fireplaces – when removing these they have to be handled utilizing safety precautions as they’ll release airborne fibres when you disturb them.
- Gaskets around old fireplace doorways – worn asbestos gaskets release dangerous fibres when worn and nevertheless in use.
- Old synthetic embers and ash, some old hairdryers, old fencing, ironing board covers, stove top covers, adhesives and fire-proof gloves were made containing asbestos for the fire resistance.
There is no one place in Australia you can be securely self-confident of purchasing a property without asbestos in it if built before 1990. Australia started phasing out production of asbestos services and products in the 1980s with asbestos pipes in 1987, corrugated items in 1985, asbestos flat phased-out between 1981 and 1983, and brake pads and brake linings.
Asbestos is barred in Australia. No new materials are allowed into the country. However, as recently as 2015 a Senate inquiry found building goods contained asbestos, and lots of building sites were contaminated with these imports. Authorities are functioning together with the installers to remove all imported products which contain asbestos.
Asbestos is slowly being eliminated from Australian homes as people demolish, renovate and rebuild, but nevertheless, it will be many years before asbestos has been cleaned up by Australia. But, its health effects will be a reminder of the devastating effects of Australia’s background of asbestos use.