Asbestos News

A pond revival project in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) that was once abandoned is now again underway, and the project will include the removal of asbestos waste.

The Canberra Times reports that the North Weston Ponds project was initially abandoned after the asbestos-containing waste was discovered. The project has been revived and will likely cost local taxpayers about $20 million, according to the news source.

That money will go towards cleaning up 162,000 tons of contaminated soil, which is twice the amount that was initially believed to be present in the area.

While dealing with asbestos can be expensive, it is vital that it be handled properly as the release of the deadly mineral fibers into the air can have serious consequences. The inhalation of these fibers has been known since the mid-1960s to cause a range of serious illnesses such as lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer.

The news provider reports that the project has undergone some drastic changes, as the ACT Government has decided to create two ponds instead of just one.