With demand for Asbestos in building products in the 1940s, a discovery in Western Australia's remote Pilbara region of Blue Asbestos led to the creation of a mining town called Wittenoom. Despite the growing list of illnesses and deaths of workers from the mine and milling operation, the company pressed on until it closed for 'financial' reasons. We look at the dangers of dust inhalation and try to determine if we have collectively learned anything from the disaster at Wittenoom.
With John Chidgey.
News Articles:
Memories of WittenoomExposure to Asbestos Takes Its TollCSR Still FightingClosure of WittenoomWittenoom Riddled with AsbestosAsbestosThe Colours of AsbestosWhat Is Asbestos and Where Does it Come From?Engineered Stone Fact SheetEngineered Stone BanClosure of WittenoomAsbestos fiber length as related to potential pathogenicityConsequences of WittenoomSilicosis and Black Lung Cases RisingWittenoomAustralian Blue AsbestosSelling the Wittenoom DreamWittenoom Health DisasterLang Hancock
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Episode Gold Producers:
'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers:
Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.
With thanks to
Christian French
for the topic suggestion.