Asbestos News

While asbestos removal typically takes place in old buildings, such work still needs to be performed in a number of places due to the deadly nature of the substance.

Workers in Australia recently learned that lesson when an old asbestos-containing water main was crushed during road construction, according to the Manning River Times.

The pipe was crushed in August and placed near Kolodong Road, the Greater Taree City Council was told. Now steps are being taken to remove the dangerous substance. The work is expected to last about two weeks.

The crushing of an asbestos-containing pipe presents many risks to workers in the vicinity as it can potentially allow the naturally occurring fibers to become airborne. The inhalation of these fibers can cause a range of serious illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer that attacks the thin membrane that lines the chest, abdomen and many of the body's internal organs.

Despite the potential risks associated with asbestos, the local authorities have assured residents that they were not in any danger of coming in contact with the substance, reports the news source.