By Charlene Macaulay
The state government will test for asbestos across Sunshine North in the wake of an investigation linking the former Wunderlich factory site on McIntyre Road to more than 20 asbestos exposure cases.
Victoria’s acting chief health officer, Michael Ackland, said an independent environmental hygienist, overseen by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), would test a number of sites near the former asbestos factory to ascertain possible levels of the toxic material in roof spaces, soils and air in residential areas. The EPA will also re-test 10 properties reportedly linked with asbestos-related health claims.
A Victorian Cancer Registry report revealed there were 16 cases of mesothelioma between 2001 and 2013 originating from within a two- kilometre radius of the Sunshine North site.
Slater and Gordon lawyer Margaret Kent said a further eight past and present Sunshine North residents had become seriously ill with asbestos-related diseases.
Professor Ackland said none of these cases related to recent exposure to asbestos, with exposure most likely related to the time when the factory was operating, prior to the 1980s.
“We still need to establish how many of the mesothelioma cases were former workers at the factory and whether any are community members without a direct link to the factory,” he said. “Any case of mesothelioma is a tragedy and, at this time, we acknowledge the concerns many in the community may have about this issue.”
Professor Ackland called on any residents with health concerns to visit their GP, and warned them not to enter their roofs to avoid potential asbestos exposure.
North Sunshine resident Wally Zielinski, who has lived in the area since 1950, said many houses in North Sunshine had been built with corrugated asbestos roofs.
Mr Zielins
ki said if asbestos was found in roof cavities during testing, it was important to first establish whether these properties still retained corrugated asbestos roofs.
