National asbestos awareness month in November

Australia is reported to have one of the highest rates of asbestos-related diseases in the world, most likely because Australia has also been ranked among the top consumers of asbestos cement products per capita.

If left undisturbed, asbestos generally does not pose a health risk. However, the study ‘Increasing incidence of malignant mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos during home maintenance and renovation’ by researcher Nola J Olsen et al, which examined cases from the Western Australian Mesothelioma Register (from 1960 to 2008), showed that over a four-year period (2005 to 2008), 8.4% of all men and 35.7% of all women diagnosed with mesothelioma were home renovators, with renovations and maintenance being the main cause of the disease in women.

Asbestos Awareness Month from 1-30 November 2013 aims to educate as many Australians as possible about the dangers of asbestos and how best to manage it.

Every home built or renovated in the years leading up to 1987 is most likely to contain asbestos. A conservative estimate is that 1 in 3 homes in Australia contains asbestos, including homes constructed of weatherboard and brick.

Asbestos can be found under floor coverings such as carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles; behind wall and floor tiles; in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings, eaves and garages; around hot water pipes, fences, extensions to homes, outdoor toilets, dog kennels and backyard sheds - it could be anywhere.

During renovations or the demolition of homes containing asbestos, asbestos fibres can be released into the air and be inhaled, which can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer which is almost uniquely caused by exposure to asbestos fibres. There is no cure.

Australians need to think smartly and act safely with asbestos - it’s clearly not worth the risk.

To learn where asbestos is likely to be found in homes and for further information on Asbestos Awareness Month, visit asbestosawareness.com.au.