Don Burke urges Mandurah home owners to stop playing 'renovation roulette' with asbestos | AUDIO

A long-term ambassador for the annual campaign, Mr Burke aims to raise awareness about the current wave of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, caused by inhaling the dangerous fibres.

He said the wave was due to the increase of home renovators, particularly in coastal towns such as Mandurah.

“If your house was built before about 1990 you can be fairly sure there is asbestos products through the house,” he said.

“Everything from flooring, carpet tile underlays, fencing; everything.

“Provided you don’t do any renovations and don’t disturb anything, it’s not that dangerous.”

More than 60 per cent of do-it-yourself renovators reported being exposed to asbestos dust and 40 per cent said their children had been exposed, according to a recent Medical Journal of Australia study.

Asbestos can be found in any home, not just fibro houses as it’s commonly believed.

One in three Australian homes will contain asbestos, including brick and weatherboard homes.

Mr Burke said studies have shown there is no safe level of exposure

“There is no cure; it’s a both a hideous death and an unpreventable death once the mesothelioma gets started,” he said.

“Growing up, we were living in a world literally dusted in asbestos.

“I was one of the lucky ones.

“There are some cases where the people involved did not have very much contact at all."

Mr Burke said if homeowners damage or disturb asbestos products when renovating or maintaining their home and release fibres into the air, they’re playing renovation roulette and putting their health and the health of their family at risk.

“If you are going to do home renovations you should get in a qualified builder and if you do come across any fibro-like material or any material you are suspicious about then there are all sorts of laws that apply,” he said.

“You can’t just drop it off at the tip; there are special processes whereby you get people who are trained deal with it.”