Asbestos News

An asbestos discovery in the Australian state of South Australia has delayed a redevelopment project.

According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 152 concrete piles coated in asbestos were found at the Glenside site in Adelaide. South Australian Health Minister John Hill told the news source that such piles were used during construction in the 1970s.

Hill said that health authorities are currently examining whether the piles need to be excavated and completely removed or whether they can be buried and encased in concrete.

"If [we] were to excavate and have to remove all of the (piles) the estimate is it would cost about $7 million and would add about eight weeks to the project's completion," he said. "If we do the other way that'd add about $1.6 million and add about six weeks, but we think the sensible way would be to just leave the bulk of the material there and cover it over."

Regardless of whatever decision is made, it is essential that asbestos is properly dealt with as exposure to the naturally occurring substance has been proven for decades to cause a number of serious illnesses such as lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma.