The Sydney asbestos crisis involves the remediation of asbestos-contaminated mulch across dozens of sites including parks, schools, supermarkets, hospitals, housing estates and train stations in Sydney, Australia. [1] Triggered by the January 2024 discovery of asbestos in the Rozelle Parklands, the crisis resulted in the largest criminal investigation undertaken by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority as of 2024. [2]
The crisis was triggered by the January 2024 discovery of asbestos in the Rozelle Parklands, a part of the then-recently opened Rozelle Interchange project in Sydney, Australia. [3]
The asbestos was originally reported by a concerned parent, who spotted a chunk of bonded asbestos in a handful of mulch brought home by their child from a playground. [1] Further testing revealed asbestos contamination in at least 17 different sites across the Parklands, which were closed for remediation. [4]
The asbestos-contaminated mulch was traced to the supplier Greenlife Resource Recovery. Testing by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) found asbestos-contaminated mulch at dozens of sites, all supplied by Greenlife. [1] The investigation became the largest ever by the EPA, with hundreds of sites potentially contaminated. [5] Greenlife denied it was the source of the contamination, stating their mulch had been repeatedly tested negative. [1] [2]
In December 2024, the EPA commenced prosecutions against Greenlife and VE Resource Recovery Pty Ltd, alleging a total of 102 offenses involving 79 contaminated sites across New South Wales. [6]
By February 2024, 33 sites across Sydney had tested positive for asbestos, and one in Nowra. [1] As of 7 March, the number of sites within New South Wales had risen to over 75. [7]
Dr Jeremy McAnulty from NSW Health stated that asbestos needs to be breathed in to be a risk, and merely touching it is typically not a risk for asbestos-related disease. [1] While most findings involved bonded asbestos, which is less likely to become airborne, three sites contained more dangerous friable asbestos. [8]
Samples of mulch containing asbestos were also detected in Canberra, [9] including one site with friable asbestos. [10] Asbestos mulch was also found in Brisbane, [11] leading Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation to launch their own investigation. [12]
The Rozelle Parklands reopened on 30 April 2024 after a three-month closure and the replacement of all mulch, although some parts remain closed due to an infestation of blue-green algae. [13]
Erin Brockovich is an American paralegal, consumer advocate, and environmental activist who was instrumental in building a case against Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) involving groundwater contamination in Hinkley, California for attorney Ed Masry in 1993. Their successful lawsuit was the subject of the Oscar-winning film, Erin Brockovich (2000), starring Julia Roberts as Brockovich and Albert Finney as Masry.
Libby is a city in northwestern Montana, United States and the county seat of Lincoln County. The population was 2,775 at the 2020 census.
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In the United States, an environmental site assessment is a report prepared for a real estate holding that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities. The analysis, often called an ESA, typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property. A proportion of contaminated sites are "brownfield sites." In severe cases, brownfield sites may be added to the National Priorities List where they will be subject to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program.
In construction, asbestos abatement is a set of procedures designed to control the release of asbestos fibers from asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos abatement is utilized during general construction in areas containing asbestos materials, particularly when those materials are being removed, encapsulated, or repaired. Abatement is needed in order to protect construction workers and members of the general public from the many negative health impacts of asbestos.
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various dangerous lung conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. As a result of these health effects, asbestos is considered a serious health and safety hazard.
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The BoRit Asbestos Superfund site is a 32-acre (13 ha) waste dump and reservoir in Ambler, Upper Dublin Township and Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania that was contaminated with 1.5 million cubic yards of asbestos containing material due to the waste disposal practices of the Keasbey and Mattison (K&M) Company and Turner and Newall from 1897 to 1962. The site is named BoRit after Bob Rittenhouse, one of the recent owners of the site.
The Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund Site is located within the Clear Creek Management Area near Fresno County, eighteen miles northwest of Coalinga, California. The mine started operating in 1963, covering 435 acres of a large naturally occurring asbestos deposit. The mine closed in 1979 and was placed in the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 due to the pollution of asbestos in the surrounding soil, air and water creating potential health hazards for local populations and environment.
Mr Fluffy relates to widespread asbestos contamination of houses in the suburbs of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Two companies were referred to collectively as "Mr Fluffy", a nickname coined in the 1990s for Asbestosfluf Insulations, and its successor J&H Insulation. The former was run by Canberra businessman Dirk Jansen, and the latter owned by a relative of his. The business only took on that name "Mr Fluffy" after he sold it.
Jenny Leong, an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Newtown for the Greens since 2015. Leong is the first person to represent Newtown in its current form, as it was created for the 2015 election.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is an independent statutory authority that sits in the Environment portfolio as part of the Planning and Environment cluster. It was established as an independent governing board in February 2012 separate from the Office of Environment & Heritage. The EPA is the state’s primary environmental regulator, working with businesses, government, community and environment groups to manage and reduce pollution, waste and adverse impacts on the environment.
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In a food safety crisis beginning in September 2018, numerous punnets of strawberries grown in Queensland and Western Australia were found to be contaminated with sewing needles. Queensland Police reported that by November 2018, there had been 186 reports of contamination nationally.
Rozelle Yard was a goods railway yard in Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia. It was one of two major yards on the Rozelle–Darling Harbour Goods Line, the other being in Darling Harbour. After heavy rail traffic ceased, part of the site was redeveloped into the Lilyfield Maintenance Depot of Sydney Light Rail. Other parts of the former yard were redeveloped into Rozelle Interchange and the Rozelle Parklands.
The Rozelle Interchange is an underground motorway interchange in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built as part of WestConnex and opened to traffic on 26 November 2023. The interchange includes a toll-free bypass of Victoria Road between the Iron Cove Bridge and the Anzac Bridge known as the Iron Cove Link.
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