Asbestos News
Significant amount of asbestos dumping costing Australian town
A recent string of incidents involving tons of asbestos-containing materials being dumped in the Australian city of Moreland is reportedly costing the city council thousands of dollars while raising health concerns.According to the Melbourne Times Weekly, Moreland Mayor Oscar Yildiz called the illegal asbestos dumping "out of control" in the area, as more than 1,400 tons of waste - including the carcinogenic substance - has been discovered over the past year.
"While this has obvious environmental implications, it also hits ratepayers financially with the bill to remove the rubbish topping $140,000 a year," Yildiz noted.
The city of Moreland itself has reportedly encountered 52 cases of illegal asbestos dumping over the past nine months, the news source said. Yildiz said that those who committed the dangerous crimes would be prosecuted, and encouraged witnesses to come forward with information about the incidents.
The financial toll of illegal asbestos dumping goes hand-in-hand with the potential health risks, as exposure to the carcinogenic material can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.
10/4/11
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