Sydney asbestos scare: How a mulch discovery has sent a city scrambling - BBC News

In an escalating crisis, the toxic substance has been found at dozens of sites across the city.

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, This park in Sydney suburb Chippendale is one of the sites affectedBy Tiffanie TurnbullBBC News, SydneyIn January, an Australian child innocently brought home a couple of handfuls of garden mulch from near a playground in Sydney's inner west.

Looking at the mulch, the child's parent was horrified to spot what looked like chunks of bonded asbestos.

Their call to authorities has since revealed a contamination crisis which has now spread across the city, forcing the closure of many public parks, playgrounds and several schools.

As of Monday, 33 sites in Sydney and another in the town of Nowra had tested positive for the cancer-causing substance.

In addition to parks and schools, they include supermarkets, hospitals, housing estates and train stations.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-68302052

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