Australian authorities in Sydney have uncovered new sites contaminated with asbestos, including housing estates, as they work to clear the toxic material from mulch used in public spaces, the New South Wales government said on Saturday.
The contamination was first discovered in January when asbestos was found in a playground in Sydney, followed by findings of recycled mulch near an underground road interchange. The investigation has since expanded, with 32 city sites testing positive for bonded asbestos, according to a statement from the state’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
In addition to the initial locations, new sites where asbestos has been detected include a public school and park in the city’s north, and two residential estates under construction in Sydney’s south-west. The University of Sydney is also being tested for potential contamination.
“Since 10 January, the EPA has taken almost 300 samples. The rate of positive results is around 10 percent,” the EPA said in its statement.
As a result of the discovery, areas in several contaminated Sydney parks have been cordoned off, leading to the cancellation of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day event scheduled for Sunday. Other affected areas include transport projects, a primary school, a warehouse, and a hospital.
To address the situation, the New South Wales government has established an asbestos task force to provide additional resources and support to the EPA in its efforts to investigate the expanding contamination.
Asbestos, once widely used for its fire-proofing and reinforcing properties, was later found to cause lung inflammation and cancer from inhalation of its fibers. It is now banned in many parts of the world.
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
