Asbestos Misconceptions And Realities
Around 4,000 people die each year from Asbestos related disease, including around 800 from mesothelioma, perhaps the most vile of the cancers.
The asbestos ban in 2003 in Australia was ‘a significant victory for the trade union movement’ … [but] ‘unfortunately represented a story of the lack of political will by governments at Federal and State levels to act in the health interests of their community.’
Our survey of more than 43,000 Australian households found that knowledge about the following basic facts is very poor:
1. The level of exposure to asbestos that is dangerous.
2. The period of exposure to asbestos that is dangerous.
3. The deadliness of exposure to asbestos.
4. The annual death count from asbestos-related diseases in Australia.
Most Australian households have not been properly warned about the risks and impacts of legacy asbestos, do not know that their lives are at stake, and are not using licensed asbestos professionals. Further, most Australians readily exclude themselves from any of the ‘at risk” categories and most think the death count from asbestos-related diseases each year is below 50. Overall, the survey findings are consistent with inadequate public information, education, and warnings in Australia on asbestos threats and consequences.
Our broader research points to longstanding key messages that have been promulgated by James Hardie Industries Ltd “James Hardie”, CSR Ltd “CSR”, and the federal and state governments in Australia to downplay the risks of asbestos exposure outside of workplaces and to mask the scale of deaths from asbestos-related diseases. Messages that are commonly portrayed within official and public health sources in Australia include the following:
Half Truths or Misconceptions:
1. Instances of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses are rare and have peaked.
2. The numbers of historical deaths from asbestos-related diseases are uncertain.
3. Public health messaging on asbestos risks should be disseminated on a limited basis, so as not to scare the community.
4. Current cases of asbestos-related disease result from historical settings that no longer exist today.
5. The risks of asbestos-related diseases are largely confined to working-class older men.
6. Asbestos-related diseases require (or usually involve) intense exposure over long periods.
7. The risks of asbestos-related diseases are largely confined to people with occupational exposure to asbestos.
8. Much of the exposure of the Australian population to asbestos (and the comparative incidental exposure levels used in scientific modelling) is caused by naturally occurring asbestos.
9. Legacy asbestos products that are bonded or encased are safe and best left in position.
10. It is safer to “manage” than to remove in situ asbestos.
In this show, we discuss the first eight of the above messages. The last two claims are more complex and will be debated in a future one. We ultimately categorise these messages as misconceptions or half-truths because they are incomplete and misleading when not conveyed with proper context.
And ask yourself, why are these misconceptions are still commonly used?
Public and unequivocal acknowledgement by the industry and the federal and state governments of the continuing risks of legacy asbestos in homes, and the associated deaths arising from exposure to asbestos outside of workplace settings, would have serious repercussions. Such public recognition of the asbestos crisis would bring asbestos concerns to the forefront of the public mind.
Asbestos Awareness Australia Ltd is a registered not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, is a registered charity, and has endorsement from the Australian Taxation Office as a gift deductible recipient. The company was set up:
• To enhance public awareness and knowledge of the dangers of asbestos threats.
• To promote measures and policies that prevent or minimise the harms from asbestos-related diseases.
To achieve these objectives, the company provides public access to widely sourced information on asbestos risks and impacts, including the associated medical, legal, and political debates.
asbestosawarenessaustralia.co...
Пікірлер: 32
Thank you for continuing the dialogue on the past and present issues and dangers of Asbestos
@WalkTheWorldDFA
2 жыл бұрын
Welcome - we think its a critical issue...
@DoubtingThomas333
2 жыл бұрын
@@WalkTheWorldDFA Yes, I would say so. 3 of my family members so far.
@dannyn6762
2 жыл бұрын
@@DoubtingThomas333 Sorry to hear that Thomas. That is awful.
I also wish to thank you for the update on the asbestos scandal. In my view a very important fact that you raise is that there has been a very serious lack of information about the dangers of asbestos from both government and other official health agencies. I myself find that because of virtually no public messaging about asbestos,so many young people in particular find it very difficult to understand just how seriously they should be aware of just how serious this issue is.It is truly worrying.Thank you for all the fine informative work that you provide for the community. With Respect from Robert.
love the new intro music, I was hoping it would continue, following the conversation points, ramping up to the tense facts followed by a sombre new morning tune with the new perception. Like a looney tune, just a Sunday thought. Thank you for spreading awareness as well as your valued analytics and references of fact.
@WalkTheWorldDFA
2 жыл бұрын
More to come!
Asbestos removal as a profession? What do you think Martin? I have heard that once bonded with cement, the risk factor of asbestosis significantly drops. I have heard the issue with Asbestos is to do with those that worked in the mines and factories.
sad - we could pay to get every house asbestos free then we wont have a single case of mesothelioma , but because it still around and the government is doing nothing about it we will keep having mesothelioma case
Why was asbestos only banned in 2003 in Australia? There was scientific evidence of its dangers decades earlier.
1945-2015 152,000/70= 2,171/year There were 190,939 registered deaths in 2022 in Australia, an increase of 19,470 since 2021. 2,171/190,939=1.1% of total deaths assuming the average is constant and continuing. In 2022, it is estimated that 904 new cases of mesothelioma will be diagnosed in Australia (714 males and 190 females). In 2022, it is estimated that a person has a 1 in 319 (or 0.31%) risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma by the age of 85 (1 in 204 or 0.49% for males and 1 in 765 or 0.13% for females). Be afraid!
@WalkTheWorldDFA
7 ай бұрын
Exactly... not going away, as the 3rd wave rises - and more women exposed via DIY.
dis-Honorable pollies how typical
Isn't it included in our school text books that asbestos is carcinogenic in nature. Why is it still under debate if that was not based on data and facts.
@WalkTheWorldDFA
2 жыл бұрын
Good point - but the reality is the establishment is in denial
Shit mate I don't have an hour can somebody summarise?
@WalkTheWorldDFA
2 жыл бұрын
Asbestos kills - and the power that be cover it up... (see the summary at kzread.info/dash/bejne/eJtrz8Gqc9zeqpc.html 48:00)
@binaryplanettectonics8117
2 жыл бұрын
Summary and a little more as follows: There is no safe minimum level of exposure to asbestos. This has been known for 120 years yet Australia commenced building houses out of asbestos based materials in the 1930s. A youth unloading a single ute load of asbestos building materials dies in his 40s leaving a widow and children. If you sand, paint, drill, reconfigure, extend, demolish any part of a home built before 1984, move the family out, engage asbestos qualified trades. Asbestos fibre sheeting is likely present in wet area wall sheeting and soffits (lining under external eaves) corrugated asbestos cement roof, carport panels, fences, as a minimum. Reverse side of such sheeting appears dimpled (pattern of minor depressions size of small finger nail.) If you buy a house of earlier age be prepared for high and increasing insurance premiums. Only commercial property occupants are required to have an asbestos audit done for occupational health and safety reasons. Yet we spend so much more time in our homes, go figure.
I have an old house from 1955 with an Asbestos roof. Will I survive if I'll remove it on my own? I'll wear protective clothing, mask, and gloves and will paint/moisturize the roof to avoid possible inhalation of asbestos dust? The roof isn't big (70 sqr. meters), and a professional company wants a lot of money for removing it.
@binaryplanettectonics8117
2 жыл бұрын
Get more quotes, these costs have been falling else wait for a recession in building activity. As Martin reiterated, there is no minimum safe level of exposure.
@dsgg5714
2 жыл бұрын
@@binaryplanettectonics8117 is better to live in such a building with Asbestos roof for X years and inhale asbestos dust from dry roof during summertime?
@binaryplanettectonics8117
2 жыл бұрын
You may not have to wait long for a recession in the building industry to sharpen the quotes. Rising interest rates will ensure this. Wrapping , transporting and legally dumping with fees has too be thought through. You will not know the health outcome for 20 years or so. Just trying to help you by highlighting factors for you to consider. Good luck.
@dsgg5714
2 жыл бұрын
@@binaryplanettectonics8117 but central banks can't rise interest rates much, because of today's Modern Monetary Theory, based on loans. This system is completely dead, but BIS (Bank for International Settlements) and IMF (The International Monetary Fund), who are on the top of the World economy are working hard right now to replace this system with a completely new digital one. Today inflation is necessary to proper operation of the monetary system (the money must to flow). But we don't even have inflation right now, but stagflation, and this all looks like a ponzi scam, but if the recession will come soon, it won't long much time. Thx for your word od advice.
@mishvizesi
2 жыл бұрын
I had a quote for an asbestos shed with 2 rooms to be demolished down to the slab- the whole thing was asbestos including the roof and that was going to cost 1.5k from an asbestos removal company. What do you consider to be a lot of money, and what is your life and neighbours lives worth? There's a video floating around of someone in NSW who had their asbestos roof pressure cleaned and it blew fibres all over neighbouring homes and yards, who then had to leave. Honestly I wouldn't DIY this.
Trust the science LOL 😄😄😄
@assbeardx5259
Жыл бұрын
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