PRESS RELEASE: Townsville Asbestos Debris Warning
Asbestos Disease Support Society
Brisbane: PO Box 280
Spring Hill Qld 4004
E: [email protected]
MEDIA RELEASE
06/02/19
Townsville asbestos debris warning
The deadly dangers of the monsoon trough responsible for record-breaking flood waters that inundated Townsville won’t end after the trough moves on, the Asbestos Disease Support Society (ADSS) has warned.
There could be significant health risks lurking in the debris and community members, volunteers and workers engaged in the clean-up after the deluge will need to be careful if they do not want to put themselves and others in harm’s way.
ADSS General Manager, Trevor Torrens has urged those expected to help with the clean-up to be careful and treat every pile of damaged building material as asbestos-contaminated.
Failure to take precautions now could result in potentially fatal health issues years after the impacts of this disaster were a distant memory. “If your home or property is damaged, the danger is not over until all asbestos material is disposed of properly”.
Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period and symptoms can take anywhere between 20 and 40 years after an exposure to show up.
The death toll for asbestos-related disease continues to rise with an average of 4,000 deaths in Australia each year. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s report “Mesothelioma in Australia” (published November 2018), states that in 2017, 710 people were diagnosed with mesothelioma, the incurable asbestos related cancer, with Queensland contributing the second highest number. In 2018 alone, the Society lost 73 members to asbestos related diseases.
Materials containing asbestos can be found in buildings, workplaces and houses built before 1990. “Given the age of some buildings in affected areas, it is highly likely debris and damaged walls, roofs and floors will contain asbestos,” Mr Torrens said. “Asbestos can be found in such things as fibro wall sheeting, corrugated super six roofs, Hardie plank cladding and the older type lino”
“The longer the debris is left out, the more dangerous it becomes. As the materials dry, the asbestos fibres dislodge and become airborne. “This means people who are nowhere near the damage are still at risk of inhaling toxic materials and lodging in their lungs.”
Mr Torrens urged people to take extreme care during the repair period, especially on older buildings that were more likely to have asbestos materials, and to take proper precautions.
“If people believe that they have been exposed to asbestos, they should contact ADSS to get an exposure form and advise their doctor to record in their medical file that they may have had contact with dangerous materials,” Mr Torrens said.
More information: Trevor Torrens (ADSS) M 0435 895 928
The Asbestos Disease Support Society is a registered charity and was established in 1992 to support sufferers of asbestos related disease, their families and caregivers and promotes awareness about the risks of exposure to asbestos.