Asbestos has long moved on from only claiming the lives of miners and tradesmen, the toxic substance now affects people in their own homes. Due to heavy use of asbestos in Australia in the 1970s and 1980s, many workers were working with asbestos every day and this would follow them home to their families.
The latest potential victims of mesothelioma are young couples who are undertaking home renovations on homes built before 1988 and are unaware that they may be disturbing deadly asbestos which could have fatal effects to their health. It is thought that one in three homes in Australian contain asbestos thus it is not surprising that 35.7% of female mesothelioma cases were caused by exposure to asbestos during home renovations.
There have been 4,700 deaths from mesothelioma in Australia since recording began in the 80s and despite asbestos being banned in 2003, it is estimated that this number is expected to rise. Australia has a National Asbestos Register where people may record their exposure to asbestos; this can assist people if they need to make an asbestos compensation claim in Australia, such as a mesothelioma compensation claim through Australian Courts.
