Asbestos was commonly used in building materials from the 1940s
until the mid-1990s. Because exposure to asbestos can cause
disease, a national ban on the manufacture, importation and
installation of products containing asbestos was introduced from
1 January 2004. The inhalation of asbestos fibres may result in
serious diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung
cancer. Because the level of exposure that may cause health
problems is unknown, any exposure to asbestos should be avoided.
Asbestos may be found either firmly or loosely bound in a number
of products once used in the Australian building industry,
including: - Roofing and shingles. - Under eaves. - Exterior
wall cladding. - Interior walls and wet areas. - Thermal boards
around fireplaces and in switch boards. - Backing material on
floor tiles and vinyl flooring. - Gaskets and seals in wood
stoves. - Textured paint. - Garages and workshops. - The brakes,
clutches and gaskets of cars. - Insulation used on hot water
pipes, hot water cylinders, do