Asbestos News
Australian construction project halted following asbestos find
A construction project in the Australian Capital Territory was recently halted following the discovery of a large quantity of illegally dumped asbestos.The Lyneham Sports Precinct is being redeveloped but the work was put on hold after construction waste was found, reports the Canberra Times. The area covered by the asbestos waste was reportedly the size of a large athletic field.
Despite the setbacks to the redevelopment work, the asbestos does not constitute a public health risk, according to Chief Health Officer Dr. Paul Kelly.
"The asbestos that has been discovered is in bonded form and in stable condition," he said during a press conference. "When asbestos is contained in bonded form, maintained in good condition and left alone, it poses no health risk."
Dealing with asbestos is common in the world of construction as the material was once widely used for a number of reasons. While the naturally occurring substance is resistant to flame and insulates well, it has been known for decades that the inhalation of the deadly mineral fibers can cause malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
10/6/11
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