Testing conducted by the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) at Sunshine North homes has found no detectable levels of asbestos in living areas or soils.
Asbestos was confirmed in five roof cavities, but was of a size that could not be breathed in and did not pose any health risk to homeowners unless disturbed.
EPA and an occupational hygienist re-tested six Sunshine North homes situated near the former Wunderlich site on October 24 2014 to further assess the risk and to reduce the anxiety of homeowners told through the media their homes contained “deadly asbestos”.
Results showed:
- No detectable asbestos in indoor air samples.
- No detectable asbestos in samples collected from soils.
- In five of the six homes, while asbestos was detected in roof spaces, it was not breathable and posed negligible or low health risk to homeowners.
These results have been provided, and explained, to individual residents; further testing of roof cavities, soil and air is being planned for other nearby houses to inform the Expert Advisory Panel set up by the Victorian Government.
EPA Chief Executive Officer, Nial Finegan, said EPA wanted to let the public know the results of its testing to help reduce any anxiety that existed in the community about their environment.
“The hazard associated with asbestos is when very small airborne fibres are breathed in, and the results did not identify this,” he said.
“Even though the asbestos exposure risk is negligible or low, EPA has provided households with advice and measures to minimise contact with the settled dust in their roof space.”
Mr Finegan said EPA remained committed in its response to asbestos in Sunshine North. Yesterday it attended and actively took part in an Open House event, also attended by the Department of Health and the Brimbank City Council, to listen and respond to community concerns.
An overview of the results of testing conducted by EPA and an occupational hygienist can be found here.