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Australia’s Ongoing Challenge of Legacy Asbestos in the Built Environment: A Review of Contemporary Asbestos Exposure Risks

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Listed:
  • Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib

    (Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Julia Collins

    (Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Pierina Otness

    (Western Australian Government Department of Health, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia)

  • James Goode

    (Water Services Association of Australia, Docklands, VIC 3008, Australia)

  • Stacey Tomley

    (Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Peter Franklin

    (Western Australian Government Department of Health, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia
    School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia)

  • Justine Ross

    (Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA), Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

Abstract

Asbestos remains ubiquitous in the Australian built environment. Of the 13 million tonnes of asbestos products installed in earlier decades, an estimated 50% remain in situ today. Because of the extensive past use of asbestos, and the increasing age of these products, the potential for exposure to asbestos fibres in both indoor and outdoor environments remains high, even while the actual asbestos exposure levels are mostly very low. Sources of these exposures include disturbance of in situ asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), for example during renovations or following disaster events such as fires, cyclones and floods. Our understanding of the risk of asbestos-related disease arising from long-term low-level or background exposure, however, is poor. We provide the most up-to-date review of asbestos exposure risks currently affecting different groups of the Australian population and the settings in which this can manifest. From this, a need for low-level asbestos monitoring has emerged, and further research is required to address whether current exposure monitoring approaches are adequate. In addition, we make the case for proactive asbestos removal to reduce the risk of ongoing asbestos contamination and exposure due to deteriorating, disturbed or damaged ACMs, while improving long-term building sustainability, as well as the sustainability of limited resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib & Julia Collins & Pierina Otness & James Goode & Stacey Tomley & Peter Franklin & Justine Ross, 2023. "Australia’s Ongoing Challenge of Legacy Asbestos in the Built Environment: A Review of Contemporary Asbestos Exposure Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:12071-:d:1211996
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib & Ian Hollins & Justine Ross, 2023. "Managing Asbestos Waste Using Technological Alternatives to Approved Deep Burial Landfill Methods: An Australian Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Terri-Ann Berry & Elena Belluso & Ruggero Vigliaturo & Reto Gieré & Edward A. Emmett & Joseph R. Testa & Gregor Steinhorn & Shannon L. Wallis, 2022. "Asbestos and Other Hazardous Fibrous Minerals: Potential Exposure Pathways and Associated Health Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    3. Katrina Khamhing & Shane McArdle & Justine Ross, 2023. "Awareness and Profiling of High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Groups in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, March.
    4. Kathleen Mahoney & Tim Driscoll & Julia Collins & Justine Ross, 2023. "The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.
    5. Simone Peta Stevenson & Oonagh Barron & Andrew Pakenham & Masayoshi Hashinaka, 2023. "Understanding and Ending the Lethal Asbestos Legacy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, January.
    6. Belinda Brown & Ian Hollins & Joe Pickin & Sally Donovan, 2023. "Asbestos Stocks and Flows Legacy in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, January.
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