Thousands of do-it-yourself homeowners and renovators have unknowingly risked contracting mesothelioma in the past 30 years.
Barry Robson, the president of the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia, said since the early 1980s, renovators make up the “third wave†of mesothelioma victims.
“What we’re seeing now are thousands and thousands of mums and dads who didn’t know the danger of asbestos and were exposed to it when doing their home renovations and DIY projects. [We are also seeing] the kids who were hanging around when dad put up a new carport, a chook pen, or BBQ area,†he said.
“The first wave of asbestos-related diseases took place from the 1930s, when asbestos was first manufactured. The second wave began in the 1950s, when the likes of Bernie Banton and his colleagues at Hardies were exposed to asbestos particles, as were thousands of wharfies, electricians, carpenters and mechanics. The third wave is the home renovators.â€
Robson said that he expects the number of women victims to increase dramatically since the first two groups of victims were mostly men in the construction business.
Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer related to asbestos exposure and is usually fatal within 18 months after diagnosis. If ou or a member of your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma lawyer, you should contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer for professional insight.