Home renovation poses asbestos risk

Home renovators are putting themselves at risk of serious long-term illness from asbestos exposure, research has found.

Published in the Medical Journal of Australia today, the research suggests a big number of home renovators and their families have reported exposure to asbestos, leaving them at risk of developing mesothelioma.

More than 850 adults who had recently self-renovated their homes responded to the survey by Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital, with 61 per cent reporting exposure to asbestos.

Cancer Council WA director of education and research Terry Slevin said he expected exposure rates in WA would be far higher.

"We'd be expecting increased numbers in WA, because of the history of asbestos mining and use domestically," Mr Slevin said.

"Asbestos is nasty stuff and it's caused a lot of people to die - we need to take that seriously."

Asbestos can be prevalent in WA homes built before 1980, where big local supplies meant it was used in fencing, roofing and insulation. Although largely safe when inert, inhalation of, and exposure to, dust or fibres can cause malignant mesothelioma.

Mr Slevin said the Cancer Council and Health Department were developing an online education program for DIY renovators.

"The notion is to take home renovators through the nuts and bolts of asbestos, identifying the risks and practical recommendations of how to deal with it," he said.

He said a practical course on the basics of asbestos handling was also being developed.

But Master Builders Association director Michael McLean said amateur attempts at asbestos removal could end disastrously. "Unless you get a professional to carry out the work, you're putting yourself at risk," Mr McLean said.

"It really does put the amateur home renovator at risk, that's why there really needs to be some form of register that identifies homes at risk of having asbestos material in their construction."