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3 Major Health Risks Caused by Exposure to Asbestos

You can find Wollongong on the narrow coastal strip between the Pacific Ocean and Illawarra Escarpment. This is home to 305,000 people, and some houses they have are so old that they date back to 1844. A good example is the Keera Vale home that has been properly maintained ever since to preserve a piece of history. 

If we were to talk about the history around Wollongong, you must know that some old buildings and houses pose a threat to the people. Mainly focusing on buildings built in the 1940s, you can find traces of asbestos within their walls. If you’re a resident of this place, you should know that asbestos can cause all sorts of complications to the body when inhaled. So it’s a must to call an expert to help you with Asbestos Removal Wollongong. A person can usually get three types of diseases when exposed to asbestos, and they are:

  • Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a severe and non-cancerous disease that affect the lungs. When one inhales asbestos, it can irritate the lungs and eventually form scars. Usually, you can know when a person is suffering from asbestosis when you hear a dry, crackling sound when breathing or sudden shortness of breath. In some cases, when asbestosis is in its advanced stage, the person may suffer severe heart complications like cardiac arrest. 

There is still no known cure for asbestosis. The person who contracted it will either be left disabled or may suffer a fatality. Most people who work closely with asbestos are the ones susceptible to getting the disease. Residents, employees, and people living in a house with traces of asbestos are less vulnerable since they rarely come into contact with it.

  • Mesothelioma

Records have shown that Australia ranks second worldwide when it comes to people getting Mesothelioma. Wollongong is also included in this list since there are still a few old houses built during the old times when asbestos was widely used. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that typically affects the thin membrane linings inside the chest, lungs, abdomen, and sometimes even the heart.  

People who work in asbestos mines, factories that produce asbestos insulation, and even asbestos factories and mills are vulnerable to this disease. They are regularly exposed to large quantities of asbestos every day, so there’s no doubt that they’ll get Mesothelioma in the long run. 

  • Lung Cancer

If exposed to a certain quantity of asbestos, apart from Mesothelioma, that person’s lungs can be affected by other forms of cancer. Lung cancer is the most well-known for causing many fatalities in some areas of Wollongong. You can find people who work in mines, manufacture asbestos products, and milling often contracting lung cancer. 

There is a study that stated, people who work in asbestos-filled workplaces while smoking cigarettes are more likely to contract lung cancer than those who don’t smoke. If you happen to know a friend or relative that works in an asbestos-filled factory and is a frequent smoker, make sure you tell them the possible dangers if they continue the habit. 


You do not have to fret when you find asbestos around your house or offices because you can simply stay away from the area where it’s located and contact an expert for asbestos removal in Wollongong.

Author Bio: Steffy Alen is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.  

Image by Jennifer Beebe from Pixabay 

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