Australia, which was a big miner and user of asbestos, has the highest per capita rate of new mesothelioma cases in the world and it is still rising. These new

Australia, which was a big miner and user of asbestos, has the highest per capita rate of new mesothelioma cases in the world and it is still rising. These new diagnoses are considered the 'third wave' of casualties. First wave was the miners, second wave were people who worked directly with the material, and the third wave are people with incidental exposure - DIYers, women who washed their husbands' clothes etc. [1] Bans on the use of asbestos began in Australia in 1967 and the material was finally fully banned in the country in 2003. [2] [1] http://www.theage.com.au/national/still-breathing-the-devils-dust-20130618-2ogk9.html http://www.theage.com.au/national/still-breathing-the-devils... [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos#Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos#Australia