New Australian laws needed to remove asbestos.

Asbestos in Australian homes is a major concern as two out of three homes built before the early 1980s still contain asbestos. Due to this alarming figure, building unions will start a movement in Sydney next week pushing for new laws that will help remove all of this asbestos.

Australia was a high user of asbestos from the 1950s to the early1980s. The consequences of this are still heavily felt today, with Australia having the highest incident of asbestos related cancer in the world and the number of new mesothelioma cases still rising. One only has to look to mesothelioma compensation claims in Australia to get an idea of the staggering numbers of Australians being affected.

Australian building unions believe something needs to be done to get rid of deadly asbestos that is still present in our homes and buildings to prevent asbestos conditions claiming the lives of more Australians. Asbestos in our homes is a serious concern as many residents who begin renovations don’t realize their home contains asbestos until after they have been dangerously exposed.

Unions are pushing for recommendations from a government report on asbestos that was finished in June to be executed and funded. One major recommendation that is being encouraged by unions is that all homes built before 1987 which contain asbestos should be labeled to warn renters, buyers and renovators. These individuals need to be aware about the presence of asbestos in their homes as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to these individuals contracting a serious asbestos disease such as mesothelioma.

Report to decide the fate of Crow Mountain road in New South Wales

A report will be presented to Tamworth Regional Council later this month discussing whether or not a road that runs through Barraba’s Woodsreef asbestos mine in New South Wales should be closed. The NSW government and Woodsreef Taskforce are pushing for Crow Mountain Road to be closed due to fears that the public may be dangerously exposed to asbestos.

The report will be lengthy as it will include the many submissions that have been made to Council and the questions these raise. Council will have to consider a number of factors when making their decision and whether or not to support the request for closure.

The main factor that Council will take into consideration is that its public liability insurance does not cover Crow Mountain Road because of its connection to asbestos. It will also not cover any claims brought against Council in the future that arise from exposure to asbestos. These strict exclusions were implemented by insurance companies after the claims that were brought against James Hardie.

Council will have to take into account the impact closing the road will have on resident’s daily lives and businesses. Hopefully, the deciding factor should be whether this road poses a health risk to the community due to exposure to asbestos. This is a serious concern as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to a person contracting an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma.

Australian states including NSW, Victoria and Adelaide have legislation in place to help those suffering from an asbestos related disease pursue an asbestos compensation claim. These claims include both asbestosis compensation and mesothelioma compensation in Australia.

Asbestos dumping in New South Wales

Residents of Lanitza in New South Wales believe their part of Clarence Valley has been targeted for asbestos dumping. This fear comes after two discoveries of the toxic material were found in the area just 4 kms away from each other. There is talk that the two finds were linked and that those responsible have simply traveled to the area just to dump their rubbish.

While asbestos dumping is illegal, the major concern is the dangerous position these dumpers are putting themselves in as they are not disposing of asbestos correctly. There is also a major concern for those who stumble across it, or are affected if the asbestos dust blows on them.

In order to dispose of asbestos safely, these dumpers are required to wear protective clothing and wrap the asbestos in plastic. When they fail to do this they are putting themselves and others in harms way. Even small amounts of exposure to asbestos can lead to someone contracting an asbestos related illness such as mesothelioma.

Many Australians have suffered mesothelioma from small amounts of exposure to asbestos. It is for this reason that various states in Australia have introduced specific legislation to assist Australians seeking asbestos compensation in Australia and mesothelioma compensation in Australia. Unfortunately, many Australians have suffered this dreadful condition.

Mesothelioma treatment in Australia

Scientists are beginning to challenge the established barriers of medical treatments for mesothelioma in Australia.

Mesothelioma is a rare disease which causes the cells of the mesothelium (a membrane that covers and protects organs in the body) to multiply rapidly and chaotically, thereby damaging tissues and organs within close proximity. Typically, mesothelioma is caused by working with asbestos. In Australia mesothelioma is prominent amongst shipyard workers, those who work in asbestos mines and mills, those who worked in the building industry, or those who aid in the production of asbestos.

The conventional approach of mesothelioma treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, however for some doctors and surgeons, these mesothelioma treatments are not impressive or aggressive enough. In fact, malignant mesothelioma has often been able to combat the positive effects of these treatments.

Recently, mesothelioma treatment in Australia has reached new levels. Scientists are focusing their energy equally into how we can avoid the use of asbestos, as well as how we can fight mesothelioma. The latest therapy is the fowlpox vaccination. Historically, farmers used this same vaccination on their chickens and turkeys to prevent outbreaks of contagious lesions. Scientists are attempting to use the fowlpox vaccine for both therapeutic and preventative purposes by inducing it as an immune response against mesothelioma cells. One of the main benefits of this vaccine is that this immune response may persist for years after vaccination, whereas the effect of chemotherapy only lasts a few days. The fowlpox vaccine also helps patients avoid the negative side effects of chemotherapy, which includes hair loss and nausea. This treatment for mesothelioma in Australia is yet to be available, as the development and testing of the vaccination is in its early stages. Although treatment of mesothelioma Australia is still of the ‘conventional’ standard, mesothelioma compensation is definitely available to those who seek it.

It is important to remember that treatment for mesothelioma in Australia is specific to the individual for the Australian with mesothelioma. In other words, the person suffering mesothelioma should obtain advice from the treating specialist, whatever that advice is. Clearly some treatments may assist some individuals suffering mesothelioma, and other treatments in Australia for mesothelioma won’t help other individuals.