Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was widely used in building materials for strength, insulation and fire resistance. When asbestos‑containing materials are damaged or disturbed, tiny fibres can become airborne and be inhaled. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious and often fatal diseases. These illnesses usually develop many years or even decades after exposure.
Read more about asbestos on the Department of Health website.
Diseases caused by asbestos
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres. Inhaling asbestos can cause three main diseases in addition to others:
- Mesothelioma: A cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen and is so far only known to be caused by asbestos
- Lung cancer: A malignant tumour that begins in the cells of the lungs. It can be caused by exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos fibres
- Asbestosis: A long‑term (chronic) lung disease caused when asbestos fibres are inhaled and trapped in the lungs, leading to inflammation and scarring of lung tissue over time.
Being exposed to asbestos does not always mean you will develop an asbestos‑related disease. The risk depends on:
- the total number of fibres inhaled
- how long you were exposed
- how often you were exposed. Most cases occur after high, prolonged exposure to asbestos or its byproducts.
Most cases occur after high and prolonged exposure, usually from working with asbestos or products that contain asbestos.
The Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia provides detailed information on the health risks of asbestos and assistance for persons exposed to asbestos or silica dust.
For information on asbestos and cancer, visit the Cancer Council’s website.
Asbestos exposure
Asbestos was used in many common products in homes built before 1990. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos fibres are about 50 to 200 times thinner than a human hair and cannot be seen with the naked eye. They can be easily inhaled when asbestos products are:
- cut, drilled, sanded or broken
- weathered or damaged by fire, wind or age
- disturbed during renovations or demolition.
There are two types of asbestos: bonded (non-friable) and friable (loosely bound) asbestos. The bonded asbestos materials are mixed with a bonding agent such as cement and usually do not release fibres unless disturbed, damaged or have deteriorated over time.
Friable asbestos materials are loosely bound and can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand. These are the most dangerous because fibres can be easily released into the air.
Asbestos that is undisturbed and in good condition is generally safe.
According to the Asbestos Disease Society, asbestos-related diseases rarely develop earlier than 10 years after the first exposure. This delay shows why early detection is important.
Read Asbestos diseases to learn more about the latency period of asbestos-related diseases.
What you can do if you are exposed to asbestos
If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos fibres:
- at your workplace: Talk to your employer or person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) and take immediate action to remove any risk. For information on how to safely manage asbestos risks, see Asbestos in a workplace.
- outside the workplace (home or community): Contact your local council or environment regulator for advice on how to make sure the asbestos fibres do not pose an ongoing risk to yourself or others. For more information, see Asbestos in public areas.
You need to tell your doctor about any history of exposure to asbestos dust or fibres. If you do not mention it, an asbestos‑related disease may be missed.
Risk factors
The likelihood of developing an asbestos-related disease depends on:
- how many fibres you inhaled
- how long and how often you were exposed
- how long it has been since exposure
- the age at which exposure occurred
- the type and size of asbestos fibres.
Most cases occur among people with high workplace exposure. If you are working with asbestos, visit WorkSafe’s website for guidance.
If you suspect that soil may be contaminated with asbestos-containing material, refer to the Department of Health’s guidance for households and WorkSafe’s information sheet for workplaces. These resources explain how to protect the health and safety of workers and the community.
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