Asbestos Found on Rottnest Island Angers Activists, Medical Community

The discovery of asbestos near vacation bungalows on Rottnest Island, an idyllic Western Australian tourist destination, and the local government's claim that the substance is "low risk" has raised red flags among activists, members of the medical community and other lawmakers. Dr. Michael Gannon, president of the Australian Medical Association (WA), said Rottnest Island authorities downplayed the severity of the asbestos health threat. "It's not zero risk, and it's time for the Rottnest Island Authority to have a look at this accommodation and try to make it zero risk," media reports show. President of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Robert Vojakovic referred to officials' response about asbestos on the island as "patchwork" to save money. Fremantle MP Simone McGurk, whose district includes Rottnest Island, told Australian media the public deserves to know "where that material came from, what was the source of that material, and if there is risk that any other broken material could be buried on the island and then possibly arrive during storm activity." Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral linked to the development of malignant mesothelioma, an often terminal cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdominal cavity. How Was Asbestos Found on Rottnest Island? Rottnest Island (also known as Rotto) is renowned for its beautiful scenery and stunning coastline. It's one of Australia's hottest tourist destinations. A recent survey of the top 10 des...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Asbestos Exposure & Bans Source Type: news