It was once regarded as the ‘magic mineral’ but the deadly legacy of asbestos continues to mount. Australia now has the highest rates of the fatal asbestos cancer mesothelioma in the world. Despite well-documented knowledge about its dangers, asbestos use wasn’t banned in Australia until the end of 2003. By then the human toll from asbestos-related diseases had grown rapidly.
Asbestos exposure can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Medical researchers predict the total number of mesothelioma cases will reach 18,000 by 2020. By then, 50 000 Australians will have either died or contracted asbestos-related diseases as a result of their asbestos exposure at home or at work.