KNYSNA NEWS - Many houses that contained asbestos-cement materials were damaged or destroyed in the June fires.
When these materials are exposed to the intense heat of a fire, it shatters into small fragments that may release microscopic asbestos fibres into the air.
Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of these fibres may be a health hazard.
For this reason, Eden District municipality appointed AirCHECK, an independent approved asbestos inspection authority, to evaluate the fibre levels in the air around Knysna.
Samples were collected during August at Heuwelkruin, Thesen Island and Brenton-on-Sea.
In the absence of a definitive standard, a reference sample was collected in Storms River, and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines were also used as a reference.
The results show that ambient asbestos fibre levels at Heuwelkruin and Brenton-on-Sea compared well with the reference level at Storms River and were within the WHO's levels expected for urban areas.
Although the fibre level at Thesen Island was marginally above both the Storms River and WHO reference levels, there is no cause for alarm.
Property owners in Knysna, nevertheless, must ensure that asbestos fibre levels are kept to a minimum.
It is therefore imperative that asbestos-contaminated building rubble is handled and disposed of only by the Department of Labour’s registered asbestos contractors.
Knysna municipality requests that property owners safely dispose of their asbestos-contaminated rubble.
In failing to do so, the municipality may levy a penalty on property owners, in accordance with its integrated waste management bylaw.
Eden District will conduct further air-quality samples on a monthly basis, to monitor any potential increase in the fibre levels and the public will be kept informed of the results.
Enquiries: Municipal health and environmental manager Johan Compion 044-803-1525 / 082-803-5161 / jcompion@edendm.gov.za.
Read related articles:
- What to do with your asbestos
- Asbestos threat gets official attention
- Asbestos in half of destroyed Knysna properties
- Beware of asbestos in rubble
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