Big Penguin Clears Asbestos Test
Big Penguin, a major tourist attraction in the northwest Tasmanian town of Penguin, was being inspected after concerns were raised by the worker who helped build the ten foot statue. The Penguin was originally constructed in 1975. The sculptor Andrew Bennie, a former Goliath cement plant worker, alerted the Central Coast County with concerns that the statue contained deadly asbestos fibers and posed a health risk to the many tourists who come to stand beside it. Asbestos is known to have toxicity. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause grave illnesses, including malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Therefore the Central Coast County was taking the issue seriously, ordering a forensic examination.
Results from the examination confirmed that asbestos was used to make the penguin, but Local Mayor Mike Downie says any asbestos cement used is surrounded by a complete layer of polyester resin and a fiberglass reinforced mat. “Asbestos containing construction materials can not escape from beneath this layer unless the outer resin/fiberglass covering is destroyed or opened,” he said. He went on to say that no asbestos fibers were detected in the exterior sampling and does not pose a public health danger. According to the American Cancer Society, ”There is no risk to human health if the asbestos is bonded into intact finished products, such as walls and tiles. As long as the material is not damaged or disturbed, for example by drilling or remodeling, there is no way for the fibers to be released into the air and inhaled.”
Regular inspections of the paint and fiberglass encapsulation will be conducted to make sure there is no cracking on the outer shell.
