An Australian asbestos removalist from Bundaberg in Queensland has told Australians that one in ten houses in the Queensland town contains asbestos.
The staggering asbestos numbers are the result of Australia’s old building habits. Australia used to be the highest user of asbestos per capita between around 1950 and 1980. As such, asbestos removalist Charlie Walker has warned that houses built before 1985 most likely contain asbestos, even though the use of asbestos was officially banned Australia-wide in 2004.
This is a concern, as asbestos, if disturbed, can release extremely toxic asbestos fibres which if inhaled can cause asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. As such it is essential that renovators of older homes seek advice from qualified asbestos removalists before they undertake renovations to avoid the risk of asbestos exposure.
Because of the long latency period between asbestos exposure and the manifestation of an asbestos related disease, Australia has the one of the highest occurrence of mesothelioma worldwide.
As such, many Australian states including NSW, Victoria and South Australia have introduced legislation to assist those suffering asbestos conditions pursue an asbestos compensation claim, such as a mesothelioma compensation claim, in Australia. Asbestos compensation claims in Australia have occurred following exposure during home renovation. Mesothelioma legal claims in Australia have also be brought in circumstances where the Australian diagnosed with the condition of mesothelioma was exposed to asbestos during home renovation works.
