Asbestos found in a power box at Lady Brooks Kindergarten in Kyneton resulted in the Melbourne kindy being shut down for 24 hours last week.

The kindergarten was reopened the following day after the asbestos sheeting had been removed. Macedon Ranges Council has ensured that none of the children have been exposed to asbestos.

All kindergartens managed by the council have been inspected for asbestos. This decision was made after asbestos was found at a kindergarten in the Melbourne town of Woodend in February.

Asbestos exposure is a serious health concern as it can see people develop the asbestos related cancer of mesothelioma later in their lives.

A recent asbestos management report produced by the South Australian Government has revealed the existence of asbestos in a number of public facilities.

273 sites in total were identified as containing asbestos, a dangerous substance that can cause mesothelioma.

The report identified asbestos at 143 sites within the Education Department, which includes schools. Of these, two required urgent removal of the asbestos, while the others required removal as soon as practicable.

The Health department was discovered to contain 37 sites including hospitals, while the Planning department had 93 sites, including sites housing teachers, police officers and other government employees.

The State Government has refused to disclose the locations of the affected sites due to privacy reasons and fears of heightened security risks.

The Manly Daily, a suburban New South Wales newspaper, recently reported a pile of asbestos cement sheets were found at a local oval in the Manly district.

The local Council removed the asbestos sheets from the site and declared the area safe.

Locals remained concerned about illegal dumping of asbestos. Unfortunately, the asbestos condition mesothelioma can be caused as a result of the inhalation of relatively small amounts of asbestos. Thus it is important to treat all asbestos as dangerous.

Throughout Australia, there are fines for the dumping of asbestos.

A 2012 British study found those who have been exposed to asbestos are more likely to suffer strokes and heart disease.

The finding was that asbestos was an “inflammatory agent” and there was evidence this increased mortality.

The study was reported in the UK Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.