Asbestos News

Preston West, Australia residents have expressed their concerns about approximately four cubic meters of asbestos that was allegedly dumped in an alley, reports the Preston Leader.

According to the news provider, resident Peter McArthur was shocked and dismayed to find the asbestos sheeting dumped in plastic behind his residency.

"It’s more than just dumping household rubbish. It’s well-known that it’s dangerous and has carcinogenic properties," McArthur told the news source. "Someone’s going to move it and it’ll break up and leave dust in the air."

After being told of the illegal dumping by the news source, Darebin, Australia director of corporate and business services Vijaya Vaidyanath said that the council had examined and will dispose of the carcinogenic material.

She added that the asbestos did not pose any health risks because it had been wrapped in black plastic, according to the news source.

Exposure to asbestos has been proven to cause lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the tissues surrounding many of the body's internal organs.