With demand for Asbestos in building products in the 1940s, a discovery in Western Australia's remote Pilbara region of Blue Asbestos led to the creation of a mining town called Wittenoom. Despite the growing list of illnesses and deaths of workers from the mine and milling operation, the company pressed on until it closed for 'financial' reasons. We look at the dangers of dust inhalation and try to determine if we have collectively learned anything from the disaster at Wittenoom.
With John Chidgey.

News Articles:

About Asbestos:

Asbestos
The Colours of Asbestos
What Is Asbestos and Where Does it Come From?

About Engineered Stone:

Engineered Stone Fact Sheet
Engineered Stone Ban

General Information:

Closure of Wittenoom
Asbestos fiber length as related to potential pathogenicity
Consequences of Wittenoom
Silicosis and Black Lung Cases Rising
Wittenoom
Australian Blue Asbestos
Selling the Wittenoom Dream
Wittenoom Health Disaster
Lang Hancock

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Episode Gold Producers: 'r', Steven Bridle, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Steve Branam.
Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Jared Roman, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Ian Gallagher and Jamie Russell.

With thanks to Christian French for the topic suggestion.