Asbestos News
Concerns raised after asbestos discovery in Australian mulch
The sale of reprocessed garden mulch in southeast New South Wales has reportedly been halted after a local resident discovered possible asbestos contamination.According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Bega Valley Shire Council decided to put a stop to the sale of the mulch while inspections were carried out to determine if it actually does contain asbestos.
Now, the council says that testing has determined that there is a small amount of asbestos contamination in the mulch, and further investigations are reportedly underway, according to the news provider.
Additionally, WorkCover and New South Wales Health - two government health and safety departments - have been alerted to the asbestos contamination issue.
Citizens who have purchased mulch from the Bega Valley Shire Council's waste facilities since March have reportedly been encouraged to speak up so that the investigation can be thorough.
Notifying health officials can also be critical as 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 a majority of the body's internal organs.
9/16/11
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