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In Australia, an estimated 4,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases, making asbestos one of the country’s most persistent preventable health risks. Even though asbestos was fully banned in 2003, it still remains in many homes, workplaces and public buildings built before 1990.
For many workers, the danger isn’t obvious. Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) are often hidden behind walls, under flooring or in roofing and insulation. A routine job can quickly become high risk if those materials are disturbed before they are identified.
When asbestos fibres are released and inhaled, they can remain in the body for decades. Over time, they can cause serious and often irreversible disease.
This article explains the asbestos health effects of exposure, including common asbestos exposure symptoms, the asbestos related diseases that can develop, and what this means in an Australian workplace context. It also outlines what employers and workers can do to reduce risk before exposure occurs.
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Apply NowAsbestos is dangerous because of how easily its fibres become airborne and how difficult they are for the body to remove once inhaled.
When ACM is cut, drilled, sanded or otherwise disturbed, microscopic fibres are released into the air. These fibres are extremely small and lightweight. Once airborne, they can remain suspended for long periods and travel beyond the immediate work area, increasing the risk of inhalation.
Their thin, needle-like structure allows them to bypass the body’s natural defences and travel deep into the lungs and into the pleura. Once lodged, the body cannot break them down. Instead, the immune system responds with ongoing inflammation.
Over time, this leads to scarring, tissue damage and, in some cases, cancer. This process, from inhalation to inflammation and eventual disease, is what underpins all asbestos health effects.
The type of asbestos also matters. The distinction between friable vs non-friable asbestos is critical. Friable asbestos, which can be crumbled by hand, releases fibres easily and presents a much higher risk. Non-friable asbestos is more stable, but it can still become hazardous if damaged, drilled or deteriorated.
The other factor that makes asbestos particularly dangerous is the latency period. Asbestos-related diseases are long latency diseases, meaning symptoms can take 10 to 40 years to develop after exposure.
This delay creates a false sense of safety. A worker may be exposed early in their career and feel fine for decades. By the time symptoms appear, the disease is often advanced.
Guidance from Safe Work Australia and the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency (ASEA) continues to emphasise that prevention is critical, because once fibres are inhaled, the damage process has already begun.
The health effects of asbestos exposure can take many forms, ranging from non-cancerous conditions to aggressive cancers. Together, these asbestos related diseases represent the most serious long-term consequence of exposure. One of the challenges is that asbestos exposure symptoms are often delayed and can initially be subtle.
Common asbestos exposure symptoms across conditions may include persistent cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort and fatigue. These symptoms can be easily overlooked or attributed to other causes in the early stages.
Pleural plaques and pleural thickening
Pleural plaques are areas of localised thickening on the lining of the lungs. More broadly, this process is referred to as pleural thickening, where asbestos fibres cause scarring in the pleura.
They are often the earliest detectable sign of asbestos exposure. Most people with pleural plaques experience no symptoms, and lung function is usually unaffected.
They are typically discovered incidentally during imaging. While not considered life-threatening, they are a clear marker that asbestos fibres have entered the body.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by prolonged or repeated exposure to asbestos fibres.
The fibres trigger fibrosis, or scarring, in lung tissue. This reduces the lungs’ ability to expand and transfer oxygen effectively.
Common asbestosis symptoms include:
As the disease progresses, breathing can become increasingly difficult, even at rest. There is no cure, but treatment can help manage symptoms and slow progression.
Lung cancer
Asbestos exposure is a recognised cause of lung cancer. The risk increases with the level and duration of exposure.
There is also a strong interaction with smoking. Combined exposure significantly increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer.
Symptoms may include:
Like other asbestos-related diseases, lung cancer often develops after a long latency period, making early detection difficult.
Malignant mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is the asbestos-related disease most directly linked to fibre exposure.
It affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen and is almost exclusively caused by asbestos. Even relatively low levels of exposure can lead to mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure.
It has a long latency period, typically 20 to 40 years, and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage.
Symptoms may include:
Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world due to its historical use of asbestos.
Certain occupations carry a higher risk of asbestos exposure due to the environments and tasks involved.
High-risk roles include construction and demolition workers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, maintenance workers and automotive mechanics. These are the kinds of workers most often affected by asbestos risks in older buildings, because they are more likely to encounter ACM during routine tasks such as drilling, cutting or accessing concealed spaces.
Importantly, exposure doesn’t only occur during large-scale demolition. Many exposures happen during small, everyday tasks where asbestos is not identified beforehand.
DIY renovators are also a significant risk group. Many Australians working on older homes may unknowingly disturb asbestos materials.
Para-occupational exposure is another pathway. This occurs when fibres are carried home on clothing, footwear or tools, exposing family members.
Australia was one of the highest per capita users of asbestos prior to restrictions introduced in the mid-1980s and the full ban in 2003.
As a result, asbestos-containing materials remain widespread in buildings constructed before 1990, including homes, offices, schools and industrial sites. Asbestos therefore remains a serious and on-going concern in Australia.
Common locations include roofing and wall sheeting, eaves and ceilings, vinyl flooring and adhesives, insulation and pipe lagging, and cement products and cladding. In older buildings, knowing where asbestos is found is often the first step in avoiding accidental disturbance, while how to identify asbestos helps workers decide when to stop and assess the risk.
The challenge is that asbestos is often hidden within structures. It may not be visible until materials are disturbed during maintenance, renovation or demolition.
This is why identification and risk assessment are critical before any work begins.
Under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2011, employers and PCBUs must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that workers are not exposed to health and safety risks.
This includes managing asbestos risks in accordance with the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations, including Schedule 11 requirements for identifying, managing and controlling asbestos in the workplace.
These obligations sit within a broader duty of care and are actively enforced. Failing to manage asbestos risks can lead to regulatory penalties, project shutdowns, increased insurance exposure and long-term liability.
More importantly, it can result in serious and preventable harm to workers.
Asbestos awareness training plays a critical role in preventing exposure.
The nationally recognised 11084NAT Asbestos Awareness course gives workers the knowledge to identify and respond to asbestos risks before fibres are released, and supports compliance with WHS obligations. For organisations wanting flexible delivery, the asbestos awareness course and the working with asbestos containing materials course all support a practical understanding of ACM, safe work decisions and the right response when asbestos is suspected.
Training typically covers what asbestos is and where it is commonly found, the health effects of exposure, how to identify potential ACM, what to do if asbestos is encountered, and safe work practices and the hierarchy of controls.
This training helps workers recognise when to stop work, isolate the area and report concerns. It shifts behaviour from reactive to proactive and supports compliance with WHS obligations.
Asbestos-related diseases develop slowly, often decades after exposure. That delay can make the risk feel distant, but the consequences are long-term and often life-changing.
If your work involves buildings, maintenance or renovation, asbestos is not a theoretical risk. It is something that needs to be actively managed. The best protection comes from recognising the risk early and taking the right steps before fibres are released.
Understanding asbestos health effects is one part of the picture. Acting on that knowledge, through proper identification, controls and training, is what prevents exposure in the first place.
For more information on why asbestos awareness is so critical check out our article on the five reasons you need training plus our comprehensive guide to identifying asbestos.