Asbestos Info
The Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc.
The Asbestos Disease Society of Australia Inc. is a caring registered charitable organisation founded
in 1979. The Society provides the following services at no cost to the public;
Counselling and support services to those who develop asbestos related diseases and their families
Economic assistance to those who suffer financial hardship or social disadvantage as a result of
contracting asbestos related illness.
Political lobbying and advocacy in asbestos related areas
Dissemination of information on the ubiquitous nature and health hazards of asbestos to responsible
authorities ie Federal State and Local Government .
Raising community awareness of the dangers associated with Asbestos products still at large in the
community and providing information thereon as requested.
Promoting research into the early diagnosis and treatments of Asbestos related diseases.
Stimulation into research for safe alternative products
Fundraising for medical research and support services.
The organisation is non-profit and charges only a nominal membership fee ($10) to its members.
Except for a small annual grant courtesy of the West Australian Government, it is largely reliant on
fund raising activities and the public's support for its operating revenue. The Society is therefore
independent of public or private sector interests.
Public support and donations have enabled the Society to assist thousands of sufferers over the last
30 years and your continued support only enhances developments to date in medical research and
life saving treatments and related services to the community.
What is Asbestos
Asbestos is a generic term applied to some mineral silicates of the serpentine and amphibole groups,
whose characteristic feature is to crystallise in fibrous form.
There are many members of the family - common among these are blue asbestos (crocidolite), white
(chrysotile) and brown or grey asbestos (amosite). Other forms of asbestos include anthophyllite
which was used mainly in Finland. However tremolite, said to be part of the amphibole asbestos
group, was used in some commercial talcs in small quantities and is also a contaminant of other
asbestos types, e.g. chrysotile (white asbestos).
The three most common types of asbestos that were mainly used in a wide range of products are:

Chrysotile (white asbestos)


Crocidolite (blue asbestos)
Amosite (brown or grey asbestos)
Until the late 1960s, the Australian industry used both serpentine (75%) and amphibole (25%)
asbestos. Subsequently, the use of chrysotile increased to approximately 95% whilst blue and grey
asbestos declined to 5%.
Asbestos is one of the most useful and versatile minerals known to man mainly because of its unique
properties, flexibility, tensile strength, insulation (from heat and electricity) and chemical inertness.
It is the only natural mineral that can be spun and woven like cotton or wool into useful fibres and
fabrics.
The importation of Asbestos will cease at the end of 2003 however, there will be limited exceptions
for the approved use of asbestos products in highly specialized industries.
SOURCES OF ASBESTOS
Large deposits of asbestos were discovered in the Ural Mountains in the Soviet, in the Alps of
Northern Italy, Canada, USA, South Africa and Rhodesia. In Australia, large deposits of crocidolite
were found in the North of Western Australia at Wittenoom Gorge and some deposits of white
asbestos were mined in Northern New South Wales (Barraba and Baryulgil).
Asbestos Products
Most homes built before the mid 1970’s contain asbestos in some form, and in fact asbestos building
products continued to be used up until the early 1980’s. Asbestos was easy to work with, was
affordable and had the added quality of being heat resistant.
There are more than 3000 applications of asbestos use – the result is that workers have and are
exposed in virtually every occupation, and most homes contain asbestos in some form.
Asbestos was often sprayed onto ceilings and walls for a variety of purposes, i.e. decorative, etc. It
was also used as a form of insulation around the pipes behind radiators or wood-burning stoves.
Asbestos was also used in Vinyl floor tiles and their backings, roofing, eaves, shingles, some plaster
and paint. Many routine repairs, renovation and maintenance activities - even putting in a new
heating system - can disrupt asbestos, releasing millions of fibres into your home, school or office.
Asbestos cement products such as roofs and cladding contain as much as 11% to 20% of chrysotile
and 5% to 10% amphibole asbestos (crocidolite or amosite). As a result of the continuing exposure to
meteorologic influences such as rain, sunshine, wind and frost, as well as to industrial atmospheric
pollutants, the surface of asbestos cement products corrodes and weathers.
Thus, cement particles and asbestos fibres are released from the surface and disperse in air and
rainwater.
Residential housing and schools were often clad with fibro cement sheeting (commonly known as
fibro) and roofed with corrugated asbestos cement products.
Common Domestic Applications of Asbestos
Vinyl Tiles
Hessian sacks used to carry asbestos used as lining under carpet and tiles
Insulation on Hot Water Pipes
Millboard behind heaters and stoves
Asbestos cement sheeting in various forms and styles on walls and eaves
Insulation inside fuse boxes
Asbestos Ceiling insulation in either a dry form or as a roofing felt
Asbestos corrugated roofing and fencing
Asbestos plasters
Asbestos being mixed into paint to give walls and ceilings a textured look.
Asbestos Caused Diseases – What are they?
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Asbestosis
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Lung Cancer
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Mesothelioma
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Laryngeal Cancer
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Ovarian Cancer
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Testes Cancer
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Pleural plaques
•
Pleural thickening
•
Pleural effusion
Mesotheliom cancer encompassing the lungs over a series of xrays.
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Courtesy: Dr Daniel Sterman USA
Incidents of Mesothelioma in Australia
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Courtesy Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc.
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Facts about White Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Asbestos in the Community
Just after the turn of the century, the first wave of asbestos diseases and deaths occurred in the
asbestos mining industry. The second wave attacked workers in the asbestos manufacturing
industry. The third wave affected former building and construction workers and continues to do so.
Now, due to decaying asbestos products the fourth wave of asbestos diseases, more subtle and
insidious, is stalking a wide range of Australians at work, at school and in the home. In particular
Home Renovators the “DYI” generation. The consequence of the fifth wave is still yet to come
(workers from asbestos removal industry and consequence of uncontrolled-unsafe removal of
asbestos
cement
products).
NATURALLY OCCURING ASBESTOS
Recently the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology were concerned of
naturally occurring asbestos in China which may have dangerous effects on human health. It would
appear that naturally occurring asbestos has been defined as asbestos mineral found in soil or rocks
that may be disturbed by natural weathering and human activities, including road and house
construction, agricultural activities, forestry and urban development. These activities may lead to
abundant asbestos fibres being released into the environment and may result in potentially higher
health risks for those exposed. Some studies have reported that the risk of Mesothelioma was
significantly affected by the distance of homes to an Industrial source of asbestos. However,
asbestos fibres derived from naturally occurring asbestos may influence larger areas compared with
Industrial sources. It would appear Western Australia has an abundant of naturally occurring
asbestos, particularly in the areas which are now subject to incredible exploration which no doubt
ought to be seriously investigated. Current Australian government policy, guidelines and regulations
have largely dealt with commercial and industrial asbestos sources as well as the effects of asbestos
mining. Naturally occurring sources of asbestos have largely been over looked as a potential source
of exposure. This is despite numerous well documented occurrences of asbestos minerals in rock
and soils.
Brief History of Asbestos in the Community
•
Australia first began importing asbestos products from Poisy, France in 1903
•
November 1916 Wunderlich Limited opened its first “Durasbestos” factory in Cabarita on
the Parramatta River NSW
•
6 months later James Hardie commenced manufacture of asbestos products
•
Background
Diseases caused by exposure to asbestos are claiming many lives and affecting many families around
the world, every day of the year, in numbers that rival the worst epidemic proportions.
•
Exposure to Asbestos dust is responsible for more deaths than any other single work-related
cause in Australia
•
Over 2,600 deaths in 2008 due to the past inhalation of Asbestos fibres
•
ADSA estimates that 50,000 more will die by 2025 from preventable Asbestos Diseases.
•
Top 5 Contributors to Asbestos Diseases
in Australia
1. James Hardie & Coy Pty Ltd
2. CSR - Colonial Sugar Refinery Limited
3. Wunderlich Limited
4. Midalco Pty Ltd formerly know as Australian Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd
5. Asbestos Mines Pty Ltd
Genesis of Asbestos Caused Diseases in Australia
On May 31st 1916 James Hardie set up a company Asbestos Slate & Sheets Manufacturing Co
Limited to manufacture asbestos cement building products.
A few decades later James Hardie Co. had asbestos manufacturing plants in every State of
Australia.
Unsafe Work Practices – James Hardie Factory Rivervale
•
Mining Asbestos at Wittenoom (Remote town in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia)
•
In April 1943 Colonial Sugar Refinery (CSR) commenced mining Blue Asbestos at Wittenoom
Gorge
•
31st December 1966 CSR closed its asbestos mining operations at Wittenoom claiming lack of
profitability and falling of asbestos prices
•
Approximately 7,000 men and women worked for CSR blue asbestos mining and milling
operations at Wittenoom.
•
Approximately 13,000 non-workers resided in the Wittenoom township i.e. women and
children (7000 were children either born in Wittenoom or they arrived with their parents).
•
To date more than 2000 of the workers and residents of Wittenoom have died from
Asbestos Diseases.
The Wittenoom Tragedy
The CSR mining and milling of blue asbestos at Wittenoom, Western Australia, is the greatest
industrial disaster in Australia and is comparable to similar catastrophes such as Bhopal, Seveso and
Minamato.
At Wittenoom thousands of workers and their families, visitors, tourists, consultants and
Government officials were exposed to lethal levels of blue asbestos a thousand times higher than
occupationally regulated at the time.
Wittenoom Facts
 Existence of Crocidolite in Hamersley Ranges has been known since 1915.
 In 1923 a Ton of Blue Asbestos could fetch 80 Pounds Stirling in England.
 About 1925 Asbestos rush occurred in the Pilbara, however tyranny of distance and the
terrain difficulties forced the prospectors to sell their claims to speculators.
 In 1939 the Late Mr Hancock and his associates constructed primitive Asbestos Crushing
Plant on the site which became known as the Wittenoom Mill.
 In 1943 CSR purchased the Leases and primitive Mill structure from Hancock Syndicate
(Messers Lang Hancock, Wright & Warren).
 Mr Lang Hancock became Superintendent of the Blue Asbestos Mining and Milling
operations.
 The company was incorporated on the 17th April 1943 and continued its operations of
Asbestos Mining and Milling at Wittenoom and Colonial Gorges until 30th December 1966.
 CSR and its subsidiary ABA operated 2 mines and Infrastructure at Wittenoom from 1943 to
1966.
 The processed Blue Asbestos fibre was transported to Point Samson on open trucks.
 The Blue Asbestos fibres were stored in sheds at Point Samson and loaded onto Ships.
 About half of the Blue Asbestos fibre production at Wittenoom was sold to overseas interest
and the rest was used in Australia.
 Wittenoom Blue Asbestos
Mine and Mill
 To accommodate the Mine and Mill workers, tents were erected approximately a kilometre
from the Mill.
 Staff and other more important employees were accommodated in a small estate of 13
houses about 600 metres from the single men’s tents.
 Offices and the company store were located between the single men’s tents and the housing
estate.
 Up to 1947 there were up to 200 Miners and Mill workers employed to carry out the Milling
and Mining Operations.
 To increase the production of asbestos fibre CSR approached the WA Government for
assistance to establish a town 7 miles from the Mining and Milling Operations to
accommodate additional workforce.
 The WA Government agreed to supply all housing requirements, a school, post office,
hospital, police station, water supply and to bitumise the seven mile road connecting the
town with the mine.
 CSR agreed to provide hotel, general store, butcher, bakery, cafeteria, library, café and
employees amenities building and accommodation for 100 single men.
 The building commenced in 1947.
 Wittenoom Population
 During the asbestos mining and milling operations the population of the town of Wittenoom
was around 20,000 which included workers, wives, children including numerous service
providers like bank, police, post office, hotel staff, shire and medical.
There is absolutely no question that CSR knew that asbestosis and cancer were extremely likely
results of working in conditions such as those they permitted in Wittenoom. (CSR's knowledge
was established in the Victorian and Western Australian courts through the judgements of
asbestos-caused injury litigation).
During the mining operations, more than 20,000 men, women and children lived at Wittenoom.
Some of the workers sent there were part of the Commonwealth Government policy to place
new migrants for a period of two years in any work situation.
Dr Jim McNulty AO visited Wittenoom milling and mining operations between 1957 and 1962 in
his capacity as a chest physician, mines medical officer.
In 1962 Dr McNulty diagnosed the first mesothelioma case in Australia in a worker employed at
CSR's blue asbestos mine at Wittenoom. Upon diagnosing this first Australian mesothelioma, Dr
McNulty personally explained its significance to CSR's subsidiary management (Australian Blue
Asbestos Pty Ltd) stating "that the relatively short period of exposure to blue asbestos confirms
the impression that these tumours may arise after transitory exposure to crocidolite." He also
sent them a copy of his paper describing the case which was published in the Medical Journal of
Australia.
Dr McNulty is adamant that CSR was always aware that if it continued to run the mine without
adequate dust suppression, they could be endangering the Wittenoom mine and mill workers to
a very grave degree.
One of the strongest warnings was given in writing to CSR's consulting doctor, Maynard Rennie,
by West Australian specialist Dr Bruce Hunt on September 25 1961. He wrote, "It would
obviously be much more satisfactory if the company (CSR) itself took the necessary action which I suggest should start with an inspection by yourself and by a well qualified ventilation
engineer. After examining the evidence which has been produced for you I find it very difficult to
believe that a reputable public company (CSR) could remain in its apparently self satisfied state
and continue to allow the asbestos mining industry to go on killing men unfortunate enough to
be employed in it. If however the present situation is to remain unaltered I feel it my bounden
duty to bring the matter to the personal attention of the Premier."
In 1962 the matters of poor hygiene and excessive dust at the CSR Wittenoom mine and mill
were brought to the attention of Premier and Cabinet of the day. Sadly, no action was taken
because apparently CSR threatened to close the mine if additional restrictions were to be placed
upon their mining and milling of blue asbestos at Wittenoom.
It would appear that despite the many warnings from doctors and mining inspectors, CSR
continued to run the mine and milling operations with little regard for dust suppression, which is
now considered to be the reason for many premature deaths of former Wittenoom workers
many years later.
During the 1970s Dr Janet Elder, Senior Chest Physician at the University of Department of
Medicine at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, was horrified by the speed with which the new cases
of mesothelioma and other asbestos-caused diseases were developing amongst the former
Wittenoom workers. "The dreadful tragedy," she recalls, "was that so many of its victims were
very young and very fit when they went there [Wittenoom]."
CSR blue asbestos mining and milling at Wittenoom has had a significant impact on all
Australians. Western Australia in particular has the highest rate of malignant mesothelioma than
any State in Australia or elsewhere in the world per capita of population.
In response to CSR’s notice of closure of Wittenoom mining and milling operations, the Hon.
Charles Court, Minister for North West at the time made the following statement to the press on
the 1st December 1966 :
“This is not the end of Wittenoom. It is the beginning of a new phase in its history.”
The Hon. Sir Charles Court was absolutely right and more than 2000 Wittenoom asbestos
diseases deaths are the corroborating factor.