Former EPA Official Flags Asbestos Danger in Demolitions: A Growing Concern for Public Health and Safety

Asbestos, a once widely used material in construction, is now a well-known carcinogen that remains a substantial health threat globally. 

In New South Wales (NSW), the issue of asbestos contamination has gained increasing attention, with former senior officials of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) warning about the dangers of mixing asbestos into waste materials during demolition activities. Jason Scarborough, a former EPA officer, recently pointed out the significant risks involved with the demolition of buildings containing asbestos and stressed the need for stricter regulations to prevent the toxic substance from entering waste streams.

Potential Dangers of Asbestos Flagged in New South Walves

The controversy surrounding asbestos management in NSW is further fueled by a report from the state’s chief scientist, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, which challenges the current “zero-tolerance” policy on asbestos in recycled materials. The NSW government is considering recommendations from this report, which calls for a shift towards a more flexible, “risk-based” approach to managing asbestos in waste materials. This shift has raised questions about how best to balance public health, environmental protection, and the increasing demand for waste recycling in construction and demolition.

The Legacy of Asbestos in Older Buildings

Before the mid-1980s, asbestos was commonly used in building materials in the United States due to its durability, heat resistance, and insulation properties. It was also widely available, and thus, relatively inexpensive. Asbestos was used in everything from roofing, flooring, insulation, and cement products, in addition to being present in various household items such as appliances, dental products, and children’s toys like play ovens, crayons, and chalk.

Despite this widespread use, the evidence of health hazards tied to asbestos exposure was evident throughout most of the 20th century. 

Unfortunately, due to its profitability, manufacturers tried for a long time to brush the dangers of exposure under the rug. They were successful for some time, but eventually the evidence would become too great to continue to conceal.

Today, asbestos is a well-known carcinogen responsible for a number of severe respiratory illnesses, asbestosis, and many deadly cancers, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and more. Research has shown that there is no safe level of exposure, and while the EPA has been able over the years to greatly restrict its use, the legacy of asbestos continues to linger in older buildings, as well as vintage and imported products.

As buildings age and undergo renovations or demolitions, the risk of exposure increases with the risks associated with purposeful destruction and natural destruction relatively the same—asbestos fibers can spread uncontrollably, particularly when proper precautions are not taken. When these microscopic fibers are inhaled or ingested, they become lodged permanently in internal tissues where they cause inflammation and cell damage, often leading to disease onset years later.

The Risk of Exposure During Demolition

Again, when buildings containing asbestos are demolished or renovated, asbestos fibers can be released into the air, posing a significant risk to workers, residents, and anyone else nearby. This is particularly concerning when proper safety protocols are not followed during the demolition process. As Scarborough pointed out, many of the issues related to asbestos contamination could be bypassed if buildings were carefully dismantled and there were stricter protocols involving the containment and removal of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) even antes demolition begins.

Safe Asbestos Abatement

The process for doing so would involve removing asbestos insulation, pipe wraps, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, roofing materials, from adhesives, and anywhere else asbestos might be found. Unfortunately, many demolitions still occur without adequate planning or precautions, leading to widespread contamination. Once a building is demolished without proper protocols, microscopic fibers can scatter widely about, contaminating the air, soil, and water, and the durability of these fibers means they have a tendency to stick around for a long time.

Scarborough argued that a significant portion of the problem could be resolved at the source—by implementing a more meticulous approach to demolition and encouraging industry stakeholders to invest in the necessary resources to safely remove and dispose of asbestos.

One way to address this issue is by offering incentives for demolition companies to adopt safer practices. Instead of relying solely on regulatory measures or penalties, providing financial or logistical incentives for careful asbestos removal could lead to better outcomes. This would not only improve public health outcomes but also support the recovery and recycling of materials, which is a growing concern as governments strive to promote circular economies and reduce waste.

The Disposal Dilemma: Where to Put the Waste?

Once asbestos is removed from a building, which should always be done by an abatement professional, the next challenge is disposal. Currently, any material containing asbestos at any concentration is classified as hazardous and must be sent to specialized landfills designed to handle such waste. If this process is not followed, those involved could be subjected to hefty fines and other legal consequences in addition to putting their health on the line.

However, as Scarborough and others have pointed out, the “zero-tolerance” policy has notable limitations. For example, a small trace of asbestos, such as a 10-cent piece of material, can contaminate large quantities of otherwise reusable construction material. This has led to concerns about the sustainability of current waste management practices, especially given the limited capacity of landfill sites and the growing demand for recycled materials.

A Toxic Paradox

Scarborough argued that the current policy of sending any asbestos-containing material to landfills is unsustainable and that more flexible, risk-based approaches should be explored, as the chief scientist’s report pointed to, which cited Western Australia’s decision to adopt a “threshold” system, allowing the reuse of waste materials containing low levels of asbestos. Under this system, waste containing less than 0.001% asbestos (approximately 10 milligrams per kilogram) could be recycled or reused under certain circumstances, which would reduce the strain on landfills and promote more sustainable waste management practices.

The challenge, however, is balancing public health with the need for resource recovery. If waste with even trace amounts of asbestos is allowed to be reused, there needs to be strict monitoring and testing to ensure that the materials do not pose a risk to the environment or public health. This may involve implementing comprehensive sampling and testing protocols at various stages of the waste management process, from collection to recycling and reuse.

Revisiting the Regulations: Identifying A Comprehensive Approach

The NSW government’s review of asbestos management is an opportunity to reassess the current system and explore more effective ways of controlling the risks associated with asbestos in construction and demolition. The report from the chief scientist, published after several investigations by the EPA, makes a strong case for reevaluating the state’s current approach, which has been criticized for being overly rigid and difficult to enforce. 

Scarborough believes that addressing asbestos at the core, prior to initiating any work, could be a key solution to addressing the issue. He stated that he believed up to 90% of the current issues could be eradicated if buildings were demoed in an “orderly fashion.”

The report’s recommendation to adopt a “risk-based” approach, allowing for the recycling of materials containing low levels of asbestos, could mark an important shift in the way asbestos is managed in waste streams. However, as Scarborough noted, these changes need to be accompanied by stronger enforcement and oversight that addresses issues up front.

Broader Implications for Public Health

The importance of ongoing vigilance in testing for asbestos exposure in buildings, the environment, and our bodies.

Asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, can take decades to develop, with symptoms often appearing only after prolonged exposure. Even low-level exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to serious health consequences. For this reason, many health experts and advocates argue that the zero-tolerance approach to asbestos in waste materials is necessary to prevent potential harm to workers, residents, and the environment. However, balancing public health with the practical need for waste recycling and resource recovery is no easy task. Whether the recommendations will be carried out and make a significant difference is yet to be seen.