Experts are warning flood-affected residents of New South Wales and Queensland to be mindful of asbestos exposure, and one family has shared their experience of losing their son to mesothelioma, which they believe was due to asbestos exposure in the cleanup efforts following the 2011 Brisbane floods.
The Sagers, who lost their son Adam just 10 months after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, are urging people to ensure they protect themselves appropriately during clean up tasks.
“We need to get the message out because there were other areas of Brisbane that weren’t affected in 2011 that were impacted by the latest storm event,” Mr Sager told the ABC.
“We saw in the newspapers after the 2011 flood reports of asbestos left on footpaths. People had the best intentions but that’s a community health issue.
“That seems to have been forgotten.”
Mrs Sager believes it could be at least another 10 years until the full toll of the effects of asbestos exposure from the Brisbane floods become apparent.
“It could be another 20 years and nothing could happen. That’s the fickle thing about asbestos exposure, it’s non-discriminatory,” she said.
“There could still be a diagnosis coming another 10 years down the road from the 2011 floods, and now here we go again in 2022. It’s happening again.”
The general manager of the Asbestos Disease Support Service, Trevor Torrens said that approximately 4,000 people die annually from asbestos-related diseases.
Mr Torrens noted that the agency sees spikes in the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases several decades after major natural disasters, like Cyclone Tracy.
“We’re yet to see people [diagnosed] from the 2011 floods, the Bundaberg flood, recent bushfires,” he said.
“The Queensland spirit in rushing in to help is very commendable but once the fibres become airborne, [they’re dangerous].
“We don’t understand why some people get it and some people don’t but the science shows it takes decades to manifest in disease.
“Mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural effusion are only capable of being diagnosed from asbestos exposure.”
Professional asbestos removalists are always recommended, but the Asbestos Disease Support Service recommends that people participating in clean-ups follow advice, including ensuring fibro is wet and bagged; wearing PPE including a correctly fitted N95 mask; ensure you clean up pieces in public spaces if you notice it to prevent further exposure; and taking appropriate precautions if your home was built pre 1990.