Non-occupational asbestos exposure on the rise in Australia

Asbestos has been banned for over 20 years, but many Australians still suffer from its effects. Industry experts are calling for a shift in the way asbestos-related diseases are handled. The leading cause of mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer, is exposure to asbestos. Despite all forms of the material being banned in Australia, cases of non-occupational exposure are on the rise. Teens have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and approximately 4,000 Australians will lose their lives to this type of cancer this year alone.