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October 23, 2012
Darwin, Australia - Speculation surrounding the apparent asbestos contamination of Darwin Botanic Gardens, located in the Northern Territory of Australia, leads some to believe the toxic material was dumped after Cyclone Tracy in 1974. The government has awarded $86,000 to help with the decontamination process.
Darwin Botanic Gardens staff discovered the asbestos on the grounds, and since, authorities have stopped all lawn mowing until the toxic material has been safely removed. Further, stopping lawn mowing will help contain the asbestos and potentially halt the spread. If disturbed, asbestos may become airborne, contaminating the air quality and possibly endangering the health and lives of anyone in the area.
According to Andrew Bridges, Parks and Wildlife Acting Chief Executive, the amount of asbestos found is estimated to be around 10 kilos. However, initial air quality and soil tests show that the air and soil are at "safe levels."
Asbestos abatement specialists have been brought into the Darwin Botanic Gardens and have safely removed the asbestos. Bridges stated that during the removal of the asbestos, specialists were able to wear protective face masks and gloves because the asbestos was not broken up. In this state, the asbestos is considered to be at a low health threat level. Friable asbestos is considered to be the most dangerous because it is already broken up and may have infiltrated the air. At the Darwin Botanic Gardens, the asbestos removed was non-friable or in tact.
Bridges also stated that after the clean up effort, the Darwin Botanic Gardens will be reevaluated to ensure that there are not any remaining pockets of asbestos. The asbestos removed from the Darwin Botanic Gardens will be buried at an official hazardous waste dump site.
Asbestos is a set of naturally-occurring minerals that is considerably dangerous. Classified as a human carcinogen – or a substance known to cause cancer after exposure – asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing settings during the better part of the previous century. Since the discovery that asbestos is highly toxic, most industrialized nations have not only banned the use of asbestos in products but also any further mining. Some countries have gone as far as banned the importation of any product containing asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos is linked to mesothelioma cancer and lung cancer. Though rare, mesothelioma cancer is only caused by exposure to asbestos and is considered an "industrial disease." Affecting the protective tissue or pleura surrounding the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity, mesothelioma is deadly.
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