Answering your questions about asbestos in Sunshine North

Transcription

1 Answering your questions about asbestos in Sunshine North 19 DECEMBER 2014 The Victorian Government has been aware since October of community concerns about asbestos in and around the old Wunderlich factory site in Sunshine North. Concerns relate to past production of asbestos products at the factory which was located at 47 McIntyre Rd in Sunshine North and closed in 1982, and current reports of asbestos materials in the area, including in dumped rubbish and in dust in roof spaces. Department of Health and Environment Protection Authority (EPA) staff joined Brimbank City Council and over 200 residents at a community meeting in Sunshine on Sunday 19 October 2014 to discuss these concerns. Community Open Houses were later held on 30 October and 10 December at Victoria University to provide information about the government response to this issue; advice about the management of asbestos; update on testing, and to meet experts. This document is part of our promise to the community to provide answers wherever possible to the many questions raised by residents. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Newsletters are also being delivered throughout the community and are available in Vietnamese and Chinese. If you have any concerns about asbestos in your home contact Brimbank Council for information and advice on ABOUT ASBESTOS What is asbestos? Asbestos is a mineral which was mined and imported into Australia. There are three general types that are commonly known as blue, brown or white asbestos. Asbestos fibres were frequently used to make building materials including fencing and roofing because it was strong and heat resistant. Asbestos is most frequently found in a bonded form such as in asbestos cement (AC) sheeting where the fibres are tightly bound and are not normally released into the air.

2 There are also friable (crumbly) asbestos products which are generally soft and loose and can be easily crushed to release high levels of asbestos fibres into the air. Examples are asbestos rope gaskets in wood stoves and pipe lagging. Bonded asbestos may become friable if damaged or badly weathered. As a general rule, if your house was built: before the mid1980s - it is highly likely that it has asbestos containing products between mid1980s and it is likely to contain asbestos products after it is unlikely to contain asbestos products. Is asbestos dangerous? Asbestos only poses a risk to your health when asbestos fibres are small enough to be breathed deeply into your lungs (of a respirable size). When in good condition, bonded asbestos products do not normally release any asbestos fibres into the air. However cutting, drilling, sanding or grinding will release fibres which may be of a small enough size that can be breathed deeply into the lungs. We are all exposed to very low levels of asbestos in the air we breathe every day however most people do not become ill from this exposure. Most people are also exposed to higher levels of asbestos at some time in their lives and for most people this kind of infrequent exposure is also unlikely to result in any illness. When respirable asbestos fibres are breathed in, they may remain deep within the lungs. They can lodge in lung tissue and cause inflammation, scarring and some more serious asbestos-related diseases, which usually take many years or decades to develop. Although there is no absolutely safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres, occasional exposure to low levels of fibres poses only a low risk to your health. For further information about asbestos visit ASBESTOS IN THE ENVIRONMENT Where is the asbestos in the Sunshine North area? Asbestos was a common building product and is likely to be present in a high proportion of houses in the area. On 12 October 2014, the Herald Sun reported that asbestos had been found in the roof spaces of some homes in Sunshine North. The EPA completed testing on six of those homes and found no detectable levels of asbestos in living areas or soils. While asbestos was found in five roof spaces, it was in very small concentrations and the fibres were not of a respirable size. Concerns were also raised about dumped asbestos in the area and asbestos being dug up by rabbits from the previously capped Wunderlich factory site. EPA is addressing remediation and fencing for these issues. Is the air being tested in Sunshine North? Yes the outside air has been tested by the EPA. Testing both in the Wunderlich site and in the surrounding area found airborne asbestos was below detectable levels. Testing was also carried out by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development at 12 government schools nearest the Wunderlich site. This found there were no detectable levels of airborne asbestos fibres. Page 2

3 What has happened to the asbestos found behind the Westend Markets (Gilmour Road rail reserve)? VicTrack has cleaned up the illegally dumped waste. EPA has also issued a statutory notice requiring VicTrack to survey the extent of contamination and ensure existing exposed material is safely disposed of and any batters are rabbit-proof. ABOUT THE WUNDERLICH SITE Asbestos building materials were produced at the Wunderlich factory in Sunshine North, which closed in The media report about asbestos materials found in the area were generally around the Wunderlich factory site. Who is managing the Wunderlich site now? The current occupier of the Wunderlich factory site is Westend Market Hotel Pty Ltd. Part of the site is leased to Pickles Auctions as an overflow car park, and a further area is currently planned for further development. Westend Market Hotel Pty Ltd has responsibilities under the Site Management Plan, to do regular inspections, independent annual audits and other reporting requirements to the EPA. Has the community been exposed to asbestos since the factory s closure? When the site closed in 1982, it was decided to cap remaining asbestos at the site as it provided the lowest risk of asbestos exposure to the community. This work was completed between 1983 and The capping has contained the on-site asbestos since it was installed, however in the early 1990s some asbestos came to the surface around the boundary and required additional work to cover it. The current landowner has to do a monthly walk through of the property to make sure no asbestos is visible. If it is, it must be cleaned up immediately. The landowner must also report back to the EPA and to have an annual inspection by an independent Occupational Hygienist. EPA officers also inspect the site periodically to ensure compliance. Have the site operators been meeting EPA s standards around managing risks on the site? Since closure of the Wunderlich factory site in 1982, the EPA has had ongoing involvement on the site. There have been an infrequent number of minor issues that have resulted in the surfacing of small amounts of buried asbestos. EPA along with other regulators are now working with the site and surrounding businesses to put more sustainable solutions in place. What is EPA doing with the site now? EPA officers inspected the Wunderlich site on Friday 24 October 2014 and found all areas that may potentially contain asbestos on VicTrack land were covered by geofabric and surrounded by warning signs. Geofabrics are permeable fabrics which help protect or reinforce the barrier to the soil below. Prior to this inspection, EPA had undertaken a number of actions to ensure any exposed asbestos at the railway corridor at the rear of the old Wunderlich site was contained. EPA testing at the site confirmed asbestos in illegally dumped waste as well as some residual asbestos from within the land. This waste has been removed by VicTrack and no airborne asbestos has been found in air monitoring in the area to date. The current owner of the former Wunderlich site was required to ensure the land at the rear of the premises was made rabbit-proof to ensure no further asbestos is brought to the surface. Page 3

4 Damaged fences along the rail corridor have been fixed and signs put in place to warn people that there is danger of contact with asbestos. How can I find out more about what is happening at the site? EPA s website has significant information on the Wunderlich factory site, including the environmental audit at ASBESTOS IN MY HOME How do I know if asbestos is in my home? Asbestos was a common building material in Australian homes built between the 1940s and the 1980s. If your home was built during this time, there may be asbestos-containing building materials in your home. Who can inspect my property for asbestos material? You can engage a licensed Building Inspector or Health and Safety consultant to inspect your property. Brimbank City Council does not provide inspection services, but can provide more information and contact details of health and safety experts. Should we leave our home if it contains asbestos? No, you don t need to leave your home. You can contact Brimbank City Council to get advice on managing asbestos materials in residential properties at or phone (03) What has happened with the home testing program? The Department of Health and the EPA are investigating whether there are elevated levels of asbestos fibres in local roof spaces, soil and indoor air and if so, whether they pose a health risk to the community. So far, a sample of 22 homes within a 1 km radius from the former Wunderlich Factory site have been specifically selected and tested. This, in addition to the six homes that were originally tested by the Herald Sun and retested by the EPA. The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) was briefed at a meeting on 8 December 2014 on the results of testing in 22 homes in Sunshine North. The results indicated a very low risk to householders. Dust samples from roof spaces, soil from yards and indoor air samples were tested for asbestos. The results were communicated individually to residents on 9 and 10 December and in a de-identified manner at the Open House on 10 December. The privacy and confidentiality of all residents will be respected throughout the process. What are the specific results from the home testing program and what do they mean? Air testing in living spaces has not detected any asbestos fibres, and additional more sensitive analysis is also being done in the USA. This further testing can detect asbestos at the extremely low levels that are normally found in the environment (background levels). Roof space testing of dust has found very low concentrations of asbestos in 7 of the 22 homes in the testing program. This asbestos is made up of fibres in bundles that are not of a respirable size (not small enough to be breathed deeply into your lungs). Asbestos was not detected in the dust in roof spaces in the remaining homes. Soil testing has detected some asbestos in very low levels in some properties. The levels seen are not unexpected for older urban properties, especially where asbestos building materials are used. All these results are consistent with asbestos sources from within homes where asbestos-containing materials have been used. Some examples include AC sheeting in eaves, roofing or cladding and asbestos in flues or hot water systems in roofs. Page 4

5 Five of the six homes originally tested by the Herald Sun and retested by the EPA were found to have very low levels of asbestos in the dust from their roof cavities. No detectable levels of asbestos were found in the indoor air testing and soil testing from these homes. What are the next steps for testing? The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) met on Monday the 8th of December to hear the results. While reassuring, the EAG recommended the home testing program include a further 28 homes (to a total 50 in all) up to three kms from the Wunderlich site. This is to give more information and confidence about asbestos in older homes in the area. The results of the more sensitive indoor air testing will provide further information to the EAG in order to better understand the levels of asbestos and any risks to health. Is it safe for me to go into my roof space? Asbestos in roof spaces presents a very low risk as long as it is not disturbed and appropriate precautions are taken. To be cautious, it is recommended that you seek expert advice is sought before entering roof spaces and that you wear suitable protection. A licensed Building Inspector or Health and Safety consultant can inspect your property. For more information contact or phone (03) Do pink batts contain asbestos? No. Is asbestos in other buildings such as schools and workplaces? Asbestos was a common building material so it is likely that it does exist in some of these buildings if they were built before The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has tested 12 government schools nearest the Wunderlich site. Results confirmed non-respirable asbestos fibres were below detection levels. Is it safe to eat my homegrown vegetables and fruit? Yes. They are safe to eat. However, general advice is that vegetables and fruit should always be washed before they are eaten. ASBESTOS AND MY HEALTH Who is at risk of getting an asbestos-related disease? It s important to note that the risk is different for different people. It depends on a number of factors including how many fibres a person might inhale and for how long. Occupational exposure Those who worked in asbestos industries and were exposed to high levels of loose asbestos fibres over a long time. Domestic exposure Families of exposed workers who were also at risk from fibres carried home on workers clothes and during washing. Neighbourhood exposure This is environmental exposure to those living in the neighbourhood of an asbestos industry. While the factory was operating, residents living or working near the factory may also have been exposed to asbestos fibres that were blown off the factory site. Also, some children who played on industrial asbestos sites may have been exposed to fibres and may also have brought fibres home on their clothes. Page 5

6 Builders and home renovators are at risk if they do not take the appropriate precautions when they disturb asbestos containing materials. Is there is a disease cluster in Sunshine North? A disease cluster is when a significantly larger than expected number of cases of a disease are found within a group of people in the same area, over a period of time. Any concerns by community members about potential disease clusters are all taken seriously and followed up. Historically in both Australia and abroad, what initially appears to be a cluster of disease usually turns out to be normal variation of that disease in the community. The Department of Health has established an Expert Advisory Group to advise the Chief Health Officer on a possible disease cluster around the old Wunderlich factory site. An initial report from the Victorian Cancer Registry on mesothelioma cases within a two kilometre radius of the former Wunderlich factory site, found 16 cases within a two kilometre radius of the site for the 13-year period from 2001 to The expected number of cases is 10. It is not clear at this stage how many of these cases were workers at the factory. Mesothelioma takes a number of decades to develop and the initial asbestos exposure is likely to be related to the time when the factory was operating prior to the 1980s. The Expert Advisory Group has recommended further analysis. How are health concerns about exposure to asbestos recorded? Any potential exposure to asbestos can be recorded on the National Asbestos Exposure Register at I am worried about my health and about my family s health. What should I do? If you have concerns about asbestos exposure and your health please speak with your General Practitioner. Information about your possible environmental exposures can also be discussed with the environmental health officers at Brimbank City Council. Is there a risk now for children generally playing in dumped rubbish? Children should not be allowed to play in dumped rubbish because of a multitude of potential hazards including broken glass, dangerous building materials and asbestos related products. The stories of piles of asbestos material at the Wunderlich site refer to work practices prior to the site being properly managed. Asbestos at the site has since been buried and capped to prevent risk to the community and workers. How can I be sure I have not been exposed to asbestos? Everyone is exposed to asbestos as there is a very low amount in the air we breathe every day. There is generally no screening test that can be usefully done in well people to ascertain their risk of future asbestosrelated disease. Asbestos-related disease can take decades to develop. If you are concerned or have symptoms such as prolonged cough, blood in your sputum (spit) or shortness of breath, then you should see your GP for assessment. Page 6

7 WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING TO PROTECT MY FAMILY? Government agencies have acted quickly to investigate community health concerns about asbestos. Actions taken include: Inspected sites surrounding the Westend Market Hotel site to ensure they are free of surface asbestos. Removed dumped asbestos at the rear of the 47 McIntyre Road property. Tested air quality in 12 local schools. Results confirmed asbestos fibres were below detectable levels. Advised doctors in the Sunshine area so they are aware of this issue. Obtained data on asbestos-related cancer diseases in the area from the Victorian Cancer Registry. Set up an expert group of doctors and scientists who provided advice to the Chief Health Officer on the investigation and management of this issue. Held an Open House on Thursday 30 October 2014 for all the community to discuss concerns and get more information from experts and government. Tested air, roof dust and soil in 22 local homes, with 28 more being planned. Results indicated a very low risk to householders. Arranged a follow up Open House on Wednesday 10 December 2014 for the community to receive an update on testing and to meet experts and government representatives. WHAT CAN I DO? Get the facts about asbestos and asbestos fibres Avoid going into your roof space without first getting expert advice and wearing suitable protection Avoid unsafe handling asbestos-containing materials Keep children away from dumped rubbish and industrial sites Dispose of your own rubbish properly and reporting any illegal dumping to Council See your doctor for personal health concerns. Brimbank Council has provided an information hub on their website ( for access to all the agencies you may need to contact. Key contacts: - Brimbank Council on (03) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on Department of Health on Department of Human Services (Public Housing). If you live in public housing, contact your local housing officer at the Sunshine Office on Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne. State of Victoria, December Page 7