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Home > Articles > History Of Asbestos Whittenoom Australia

History of Asbestos: Whittenoom, Australia

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been proven to lead to the lung cancer mesothelioma and numerous other diseases. Most people who are exposed to asbestos develop their disease decades after inhaling microscopic asbestos fibers, often in the workplace. In addition to the risks it poses to individuals, however, entire communities located near asbestos mines have been destroyed by asbestos.

The town of Wittenoom in Western Australia is now an abandoned ghost town. It was once the site of an intensive asbestos mining operation. Before the dangers of asbestos were known to the public, it was in high demand as a source of insulation for homes and businesses, and was even used extensively during WW2 in ship building.

Since Wittenoom was the only town in Australia that produced asbestos, the high demand meant extensive mining operations. Asbestos production in Wittenoom was at its height during the 1950s and 60s, when 20,000 people lived and worked around the mine. Since symptoms of mesothelioma do not develop until decades after exposure, the full impact of asbestos on this community was not felt for a long time after peak production.

Since that time, 2000 former residents of Wittenoom have died of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Even though production has long ceased and the town has been completely evacuated, levels of asbestos fibers in the soil make it dangerous even to visit the town. The impact of asbestos on this town was so great that the government of Australia plans on destroying it and cleaning up the area.

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If you have developed an asbestos-related condition, you are entitled to take legal action against the asbestos-producing companies responsible for the suffering of countless people. By seeking the help of an asbestos mesothelioma lawyer, you can win damages for your medical bills and suffering.

To learn more and to discuss your case directly with the compassionate mesothelioma lawyers, contact the law office of Williams-Kherkher today at 800-781-3955.

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