Asbestos Warning For Older Australian Homes -- MesoLink.org -- 07-29-04

A widow from Canberra, Australia, is pleading with government officials to make the public more aware of the presence and risks of asbestos in older homes. The widow, Elizabeth Thurbon, lost her husband Peter last year after he contracted mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos when working as a builder.

Mrs Thurbon’s first main concern is that the rising house prices often make it difficult or impossible for families to buy newer, safer homes, and they often have to opt for older houses. The older properties are at high risk of having large quantities of asbestos within their structure, and when the family starts to decorate or renovate the property they could inadvertently put themselves and their loved ones at risk of contracting as asbestos related disease, such as mesothelioma.

Mrs Thurbon is also concerned that those already living in older properties may not be aware of the danger that surrounds them, and may expose themselves and their families to asbestos fibers without even realising what it is and how it can harm them.

Asbestos is a material that can cause a number of health problems, including a terminal cancer known as mesothelioma, which can attack the lungs, heart or abdominal areas.

The Australian government have already been approached once by Mrs Thurbon, but had taken no action to issue warnings to residents of older houses or potential purchasers of older properties.

Mr Thurbon has now also approached building unions to request that they raise the matter.