Asbestos News

An Australian lawmaker recently said that renovation shows on television are putting people at risk for asbestos exposure because they do not warn them of the danger of the naturally occurring substance.

Labor senator Lisa Singh told parliament that reality shows like The Block and The Renovators should have asbestos warnings on the bottom of the screen, reports the Herald Sun.

"These shows have an obligation to tell people that asbestos can be found in fibro sheeting, water, drain and flue pipes," she said. "No one wants to see a spike in the diagnosis of asbestos-related disease in 20-plus years and have it attributed to the craze of DIY home renovation."

Asbestos can be found in many older homes as the substance was widely used as an insulator and flame retardant. However, by the mid-1960s it had been proven that exposure to the substance could cause a number of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Due to these extreme dangers it is vital that every precaution is taken when people undertake renovation work.

The television station that runs one of the shows has indicated that it would begin to educate the public about asbestos risks.