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Asbestos Warnings Continue To Fall On Deaf Ears - Prevention is Only Cure

By: PRLog
Asbestos Awareness Day - Friday 24th November
Key Stats: 1 in 3 Australian homes contain asbestos; 61% of DIYers reported being exposed to asbestos fibres during DIY renovations; 1 in 4 kids in homes being renovated are exposed to deadly fibres during DIY renovations and every 13 hours one Australian dies from an asbestos related disease.

It is time for Australians to start taking the warnings seriously.

SYDNEY, Australia - Nov. 23, 2017 - PRLog -- Although at least one Australian dies from asbestos-related diseases every 14 hours, and with deaths predicted to rise due to homeowners and tradies inhaling asbestos fibres when renovating or maintaining properties, tragically the warnings continue to fall on deaf ears.

Some believe that asbestos-related deaths remain buried deep in Australia's past but this is not the case. Every week, 13 Australians die of asbestos-related diseases, 12 from malignant mesothelioma and another 13 are diagnosed with this incurable cancer caused from inhaling asbestos fibres when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed.

Don Burke OAM, Ambassador for the National Asbestos Awareness Campaign said, "Even faced with these tragic statistics, Australians continually ignore the warnings and expose themselves, partners and kids to fibres that can kill."

"It may not be this year, or even in ten years, but if people continue ignoring the warnings, families across Australia will be devastated when their loved one is diagnosed with a deadly disease. Prevention is the only cure," he said.

If asbestos is disturbed when renovating and fibres are released and inhaled, this can cause asbestos-related diseases including lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma which can develop 20-50 years after inhaling fibres, there is no cure and the average survival time after diagnosis is just 10-12 months.

In a study, more than 61% of DIY renovators reported asbestos exposure during renovations. 40% said partners had been exposed and 23% said their children had been exposed - that's 1 in 4 kids exposed during DIY renovations.

Asbestos remains in one third of homes including brick, weatherboard, fibro, clad homes and apartments built or renovated before 1987. With asbestos exposure linked to DIY and renovating, the evidence points to an increase in Australians diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.

Professor Ken Takahashi, Director the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI) said, "With the number of Australian's affected predicted to remain high in coming years, instead of ignoring the warnings, homeowners and tradies have a responsibility to learn the dangers of asbestos and how to manage it safely."

When it comes to asbestos and renovating, GO SLOW! Asbestos it's a NO GO! Visit asbestosawareness.com.au to learn what you need to know!

-ENDS-

Media Release:
https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/AsbestosAwarenessDayRelease

Photographs: https://asbestosawareness.box.com/v/AsbestosAwarenessImages

Video: https://vimeo.com/239056408

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