Asbestos News

An asbestos victims support group in the Australian state of New South Wales is saying that there is a shortage of trained asbestos removal specialists.

The Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia say that there are too few people on the mid-north coast of NSW to abate the naturally occurring substance from structures, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Proper training for asbestos removal professionals is essential because if the substance is disturbed its mineral fibers can become airborne. If these fibers are inhaled by anyone in the area they can cause a number of serious illnesses like asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.

Foundation president Barry Robson says that the lack of properly trained specialists has led to a number of illegal dumping incidents.

"People say, oh well, it's only half a dozen sheets of asbestos, they bash it up (and) stick it in their wheelie bin," Robson told the news provider. "Not only have they now exposed themselves, and their family and their neighbors, but there's the garbage collectors, the people that work at the tip and so on. That's why we're saying we feel people can set up their own business in this area."