Asbestos News
Australian attorney general warns flood victims of asbestos dangers
The attorney general of an Australian state is warning residents to be mindful of asbestos-containing materials when cleaning up following a flood.Queensland Attorney General Cameron Dick, who is also the state's Minister for Industrial Relations, stressed caution in a statement to residents.
"It’s best to err on the side of caution, assume that asbestos is present and treat it as such by wearing protective gear, keeping the material damp and handling it with care as fibers can be released into the air through sawing, drilling or breaking it up."
Any contact with asbestos-containing materials can result in the contraction of a serious illness such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Such diseases claim the lives of about 107,000 people each year around the globe, according to the World Health Organization.
Dick said that many structures may contain the carcinogenic mineral.
"Any sheds or buildings built before 1990 are likely to have some asbestos materials in them, so if they’ve been damaged then be very cautious when cleaning up," the statement read.
1/5/11
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