In Australia, more chrysotile (white asbestos) than amphibole (blue and brown) asbestos was mined until 1939. New South Wales, the first state to mine asbestos, produced the largest tonnages of chrysotile (until 1983) as well as smaller quantities of amphibole (until 1949). With the commencement of mining in Wittenoom in Western Australia in 1937, crocidolite (blue asbestos) dominated production until final closure of the mine in 1966. The main sources of raw asbestos imports were from Canada (chrysotile) and South Africa (crocidolite and amosite (brown asbestos)). Consumption peaked in about 1975 at approximately 70 000 tonnes per year.
In addition to imports of asbestos fibre, Australia also imported many manufactured asbestos products, including asbestos containing cement articles, yarn, cord and fabric, joint and millboard, friction materials and gaskets. The main sources of supply were the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Federal Republic of Germany and Japan. With the closing of the crocidolite mine at Wittenoom, Australian asbestos production and exports declined. Imports of chrysotile also started to decline.
In Australia, over 60% of all production and 90% of all consumption of asbestos fibre was used in the asbestos cement manufacturing industry. From about 1940 to the late 1960s all three types of asbestos were used in this industry. The use of crocidolite began being phased out from 1967. Amosite was used until the mid 1980s. Much of the industry output remains in service today in the form of “fibro” houses and water and sewerage piping. By 1954, Australia was number four in the Western world in gross consumption of asbestos cement products, after the USA, UK and France: and clearly first on a per capita basis. After World War II to 1954, 70 000 asbestos cement houses were built in the state of New South Wales alone (52% of all houses built).
In Australia, until the 1960s, 25% of all new housing was clad in asbestos cement.
Exposures to asbestos in the past were very high in some industries and occupations: as much as 25 million particles per cubic foot (150 fibres/ml) in asbestos pulverisors and disintegrators in the asbestos cement industry, and up to 600 fibres/ml among baggers at Wittenoom. The use of asbestos products has been regulated since the late 1970s. A series of regulations adopted in the late 1970s and early 1980s by the various states imposed exposure limits of 0.1 fibres/ml for crocidolite and amosite, and 0.1-1.0 fibres/ml for chrysotile. In July 2003, a revised national exposure standard for chrysotile asbestos of 0.1 fibres/ml was declared by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC). The prohibition of all forms of asbestos was adopted simultaneously under regulations in each Australian jurisdiction and Australian Customs on 31 December 2003.
A new national Model Code of Practice, How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace, December 2011, is available as an electronic publication on the Safe Work Australia web site. This Code of Practice provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking on how to manage risks associated with asbestos and asbestos containing material at the workplace and thereby minimise the incidence of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma Projections
Due to the long latency between exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma, typically between 20 and 40 years, it is expected that the incidence of mesothelioma will not peak until after 2013. Clements et al (2007a) predict that the number of new cases in Australia will peak in 2017. In another study, Clements et al (2007b) used two different models to project the incidence of mesothelioma in men in New South Wales. Using an age/birth cohort model, they predict that the number of new cases would peak in 2021 and using a model based on potential exposure to asbestos in terms of age and calendar year, they predict the peak would occur in 2014.
The new Australian Mesothelioma Registry
In February 2010, Safe Work Australia initiated and funded the establishment of a new Mesothelioma Registry (www.mesothelioma-australia.com). The registry is administered by the Cancer Institute of New South Wales in association with the Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health. Besides receiving notifications of new diagnosis of mesothelioma from all Australian cancer registries, consenting patients are asked about their residential, occupational and environmental history. The Registry management committee includes some of the leading experts in asbestos-related disease in Australia.
The aims of the Australian Mesothelioma Registry are to:
• better understand the exact relationship between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma
• better understand the nature and levels of asbestos exposure that can result in mesothelioma
• identify the groups of workers exposed to potentially dangerous levels of asbestos and to prevent that exposure
• assist the development of policies to best deal with the asbestos still present in our environment (mainly our built environment)
• provide information to assist researchers in undertaking investigations with the aim of preventing mesothelioma in the future, and
• identify other potential exposures that may cause mesothelioma.
In addition to imports of asbestos fibre, Australia also imported many manufactured asbestos products, including asbestos containing cement articles, yarn, cord and fabric, joint and millboard, friction materials and gaskets. The main sources of supply were the United Kingdom (UK), United States of America (USA), Federal Republic of Germany and Japan. With the closing of the crocidolite mine at Wittenoom, Australian asbestos production and exports declined. Imports of chrysotile also started to decline.
In Australia, over 60% of all production and 90% of all consumption of asbestos fibre was used in the asbestos cement manufacturing industry. From about 1940 to the late 1960s all three types of asbestos were used in this industry. The use of crocidolite began being phased out from 1967. Amosite was used until the mid 1980s. Much of the industry output remains in service today in the form of “fibro” houses and water and sewerage piping. By 1954, Australia was number four in the Western world in gross consumption of asbestos cement products, after the USA, UK and France: and clearly first on a per capita basis. After World War II to 1954, 70 000 asbestos cement houses were built in the state of New South Wales alone (52% of all houses built).
In Australia, until the 1960s, 25% of all new housing was clad in asbestos cement.
Exposures to asbestos in the past were very high in some industries and occupations: as much as 25 million particles per cubic foot (150 fibres/ml) in asbestos pulverisors and disintegrators in the asbestos cement industry, and up to 600 fibres/ml among baggers at Wittenoom. The use of asbestos products has been regulated since the late 1970s. A series of regulations adopted in the late 1970s and early 1980s by the various states imposed exposure limits of 0.1 fibres/ml for crocidolite and amosite, and 0.1-1.0 fibres/ml for chrysotile. In July 2003, a revised national exposure standard for chrysotile asbestos of 0.1 fibres/ml was declared by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC). The prohibition of all forms of asbestos was adopted simultaneously under regulations in each Australian jurisdiction and Australian Customs on 31 December 2003.
A new national Model Code of Practice, How to Manage and Control Asbestos in the Workplace, December 2011, is available as an electronic publication on the Safe Work Australia web site. This Code of Practice provides practical guidance for persons conducting a business or undertaking on how to manage risks associated with asbestos and asbestos containing material at the workplace and thereby minimise the incidence of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma Projections
Due to the long latency between exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma, typically between 20 and 40 years, it is expected that the incidence of mesothelioma will not peak until after 2013. Clements et al (2007a) predict that the number of new cases in Australia will peak in 2017. In another study, Clements et al (2007b) used two different models to project the incidence of mesothelioma in men in New South Wales. Using an age/birth cohort model, they predict that the number of new cases would peak in 2021 and using a model based on potential exposure to asbestos in terms of age and calendar year, they predict the peak would occur in 2014.
The new Australian Mesothelioma Registry
In February 2010, Safe Work Australia initiated and funded the establishment of a new Mesothelioma Registry (www.mesothelioma-australia.com). The registry is administered by the Cancer Institute of New South Wales in association with the Monash Centre for Occupational & Environmental Health. Besides receiving notifications of new diagnosis of mesothelioma from all Australian cancer registries, consenting patients are asked about their residential, occupational and environmental history. The Registry management committee includes some of the leading experts in asbestos-related disease in Australia.
The aims of the Australian Mesothelioma Registry are to:
• better understand the exact relationship between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma
• better understand the nature and levels of asbestos exposure that can result in mesothelioma
• identify the groups of workers exposed to potentially dangerous levels of asbestos and to prevent that exposure
• assist the development of policies to best deal with the asbestos still present in our environment (mainly our built environment)
• provide information to assist researchers in undertaking investigations with the aim of preventing mesothelioma in the future, and
• identify other potential exposures that may cause mesothelioma.
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