Asbestos News

The asbestos cleanup following a house explosion in South Australia has been muddled by the fact that the area is a crime scene.

Earlier this week, a house in Adelaide blew up, causing damage to nearby homes and spreading asbestos debris throughout the area. Witnesses told police that they saw someone stagger away from the site and drive off. Now, authorities have the suspect in custody, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Tea Tree Gully Mayor Miriam Smith told the news provider that red tape has made prompt action on the asbestos contamination difficult. However, Smith said that the proper authorities have now cleared the site to be cleaned up.

"We have now have that cleared by SAPOL [South Australia Police] in writing that... that site can now be cleared," she told the news provider. "We're just working our way through some of the legalities around access onto a site that does not actually belong to the council, that is a private property."

Quick action on asbestos cleanup is vital as exposure to the naturally occurring substance has been proven to cause a range of serious illnesses such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.