Despite the phasing out of asbestos use in Australia towards the end of the 1980s and its total ban in 2003, many homes in Australia still contain remnants of asbestos-based products. From the 1940s, asbestos was used commonly in cement products (such as fibro sheeting, pipes and gutters), as well as in insulation and soundproofing materials.

Although certain parts of Australia have undergone clean-up programs, there is no doubt that asbestos is still present in a large number of homes.

This is alarming considering the toxicity of asbestos. When air-borne asbestos fibres are breathed in, they are potentially hazardous. Such exposure to asbestos is a known cause of diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases.

Studies have shown that do-it-yourself home renovators are increasingly at risk, with growing numbers of diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma for this group. They warn of a ‘third-wave’ of mesothelioma victims. This group is more likely to have had a short-term and/or low-level exposure to products containing asbestos. The group is also expected to have a shorter latency period between exposure and diagnosis of mesothelioma.

As such, it is important that home-owners in Australia are aware of the dangers of asbestos. To stay protected, it is important to have a trained asbestos professional inspect any suspicious materials, and have them removed properly and safely. While mesothelioma is treatable through means such as surgery and chemotherapy, there is no known cure. For those who suffer mesothelioma, they may be able to receive mesothelioma compensation in Australia.

Homeowners in the Australian Capital Territory are calling for a public awareness campaign regarding the possible presence of asbestos in homes which were screened in the 1980s. The program cleaned approximately 1,000 homes of ‘Mr Fluffy’, an insulation material installed in the ‘60s and ‘70s, which was found to contain amosite asbestos; known to be one of the most dangerous forms of asbestos.

Most recently, a home in Canberra showed to contain a significant amount of asbestos which is soon to be removed. The asbestos was discovered by a licensed assessor who was called in by the owners after they had found a suspicious substance in their home. This is the fourth home in ACT to be discovered to have missed the official screening process. The toxicity of asbestos and the threats it poses to those exposed to its fibres mean that the clean up of this home will require the Canberra home to be encapsulated in a giant pressurized plastic bubble. This will ensure that the asbestos fibres, which are known to cause diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, are not spread to neighbouring areas.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General, Simon Corbell has stated, “While it is unfortunate that homes were missed, it is important to note that neither the Australian Capital Territory nor Commonwealth Government gave any assurances that all homes containing Mr Fluffy would be identified during the program.”

With this in mind, there are concerns that other houses that underwent the screen in the 1980s may still have remaining asbestos fibres in areas such as wall cavities. Homeowners should be cautious if undergoing even minor repairs to such homes. A series of internal reviews of the ‘Mr Fluffy’ program has begun.