Asbestos News

Pieces of white asbestos have reportedly been discovered on some beaches in the northern part of the Australian city of Darwin, prompting local officials to erect warning signs.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, local residents reported seeing small white rock-like particles washing up on the shore of the beaches and subsequently contacted the Northern Territory Environment Department.

Still, Parks and Wildlife director Digby Whyte told the news source that the signs have been put up as a precaution and that there is no immediate danger.

"We have put up signs to alert people so they can see what asbestos looks like and to not handle it," he said. "We are in the process of getting organized to remove it."

Properly handling and disposing of asbestos is critical as exposure to the carcinogenic material can lead to the development of lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the tissues surrounding a majority of the body's internal organs.

The World Health Organization estimates approximately 107,000 people die each year around the world as a result of asbestos-related diseases.