❓ A parliamentary question addresses the health risks associated with asbestos exposure in Wittenoom, focusing on the extent of contamination and the rationale behind safety buffer zones. The answer acknowledges significant asbestos contamination and a 2km buffer zone, but admits the full spread is undetermined.
AnsweredQoN 1963Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
With regard to current health risks of living in the Town of Wittenoom -
(1) What are the current health risks?
(2) How are they arrived at?
(3) How are they identified as being any greater or lower than any other community or town?
(4) What is the radius around the Town of Wittenoom of these health risks?
(1) What are the current health risks?
(2) How are they arrived at?
(3) How are they identified as being any greater or lower than any other community or town?
(4) What is the radius around the Town of Wittenoom of these health risks?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 June 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Response time
28 days
(2) Risk estimates for asbestos related disease are derived from epidemiological studies. (3) Mine tailings contaminated with crocidolite asbestos were used extensively in the Town and exposed surface fibres have an increased opportunity to become airborne, particularly when disturbed by human activities or wind erosion. Widespread contamination of the Town with free asbestos fibres has increased the fibre generation potential and the exposure risk. (4) The spread of asbestos contamination has not been determined. A two kilometre radius is considered an appropriate buffer distance from heavily contaminated areas, as found in the Town of Wittenoom, to reduce the exposure risk.
(3) Mine tailings contaminated with crocidolite asbestos were used extensively in the Town and exposed surface fibres have an increased opportunity to become airborne, particularly when disturbed by human activities or wind erosion. Widespread contamination of the Town with free asbestos fibres has increased the fibre generation potential and the exposure risk. (4) The spread of asbestos contamination has not been determined. A two kilometre radius is considered an appropriate buffer distance from heavily contaminated areas, as found in the Town of Wittenoom, to reduce the exposure risk.
(4) The spread of asbestos contamination has not been determined. A two kilometre radius is considered an appropriate buffer distance from heavily contaminated areas, as found in the Town of Wittenoom, to reduce the exposure risk.
(3) Mine tailings contaminated with crocidolite asbestos were used extensively in the Town and exposed surface fibres have an increased opportunity to become airborne, particularly when disturbed by human activities or wind erosion. Widespread contamination of the Town with free asbestos fibres has increased the fibre generation potential and the exposure risk. (4) The spread of asbestos contamination has not been determined. A two kilometre radius is considered an appropriate buffer distance from heavily contaminated areas, as found in the Town of Wittenoom, to reduce the exposure risk.
(4) The spread of asbestos contamination has not been determined. A two kilometre radius is considered an appropriate buffer distance from heavily contaminated areas, as found in the Town of Wittenoom, to reduce the exposure risk.
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