One of the most beautiful areas inward the Pilbara percentage of Western Commonwealth of Australia is likewise i of the most dangerous. About fourscore years agone , bluish asbestos crocidolite was discovered hither leading to the evolution of extensive mines in addition to afterward a town to back upwards the workforce. For the adjacent 30 years , Wittenoom was Australia's solely supplier of bluish asbestos transportation out some 161 ,000 tons of the deadly material.
Asbestos is extremely toxic. The sparse fibrous crystals of asbestos is composed of millions of microscopic filaments that are easily released inward air every bit dust. When inhaled , these fibers larn lodged inward the lung where it stays for years , slow scaring the lung tissues , restricting one's might to inhale in addition to eventually causing a type of rare in addition to untreatable cancer. Of the estimated xx ,000 people who lived in addition to worked inward Wittenoom during the life of the mines in addition to town , to a greater extent than than ii ,000 are believed to bring then far died of asbestos-related diseases. Yet , when the mines closed inward 1966 , it was non due to growing wellness work organisation but lack of profitability.
Photo credit: Ray Foot/Flickr
Although bluish asbestos was commencement recorded inward the expanse inward 1917 , it was prospector Lang Hancock in addition to partner Peter Wright who started large-scale mining of Wittenoom Gorge inward 1936. Two years later , mining started inward the nearby Yampire Gorge. By 1939 , Wittenoom was producing large quantities of asbestos that were promptly bought past times the British to run into the surging need created past times the Second World War. Thousands of tons of asbestos were used inward battleships to insulate pipage , boilers , steam engines , in addition to steam turbines. Asbestos was likewise used inward tanks , planes , helmets in addition to to brand filters for —ironically— gas masks. Even earlier the nation of war , asbestos purpose was widespread. Its resistance to burn , rut , electrical in addition to chemic harm every bit good every bit affordability , made it the textile of choice inward applications such every bit electrical insulation in addition to edifice insulation.
In 1943 , the mine was bought past times Australian Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd , a subsidiary of CSR Limited , who continued mining until 1966. Unfortunately for CSR , the society struggled to brand profit. By the fourth dimension the mine closed , the society had an accumulated debt of some $2.5 million.
Blue asbestos from Wittenoom. Photo credit: Edgar Vonk/Flickr
The town of Wittenoom was built inward 1947 , x kilometers from the mine. At its peak , some xx ,000 people consisting of workers in addition to their families lived there. Government medical officers who visited Wittenoom soon after its founding raised serious concerns nearly dust levels inward the mine in addition to processing flora , in addition to warned the society nearly the risks of asbestos in addition to the dangers to the miners in addition to the people living inward the town. But the Health Department did non bring the potency to monastic enjoin CSR to unopen downward the mine.
The commencement example of asbestosis at Wittenoom was reported every bit early on every bit 1946 , although it was non conclusively diagnosed until much later. The commencement mesothelioma example was diagnosed inward 1962. In the end 5 years of the mine’s beingness , to a greater extent than than 100 cases of lung affliction were recorded inward the town.
Although the mines are gone , mountains of bluish asbestos tailings withal remain inward the Pilbara , opened upwards to the elements , spreading across the landscape past times the annual floods , contaminating H2O sources , pastures in addition to other inhabited areas.
Wittenoom inward 1966. Photo credit: lindsaybridge/Flickr
Starting from 1978 , the authorities started phasing downward action inward the town in addition to encouraged residents to relocate. But the town would officially remain opened upwards some other 3 decades , serving every bit a prime number tourist finish alongside upwards to forty ,000 visitors a year. In 2006 , the authorities turned off the might grid to Wittenoom. The adjacent twelvemonth , the town's advert was wiped from official maps in addition to signs were posted some the quondam township alert visitors of the deadly risks of airborne asbestos. But non everyone was compass to movement out. As of 2015 , 3 people withal alive inward Wittenoom.
Lorraine Thomas , who has been living inward Wittenoom since 1984 in addition to runs the local jewel in addition to souvenir store catering to tourists , is dismissive of the wellness risks. “It’s solely the dust that’s unsafe ,” she says , claiming at that spot is piffling or no airborne asbestos inward the town since mining activities ceased.
Another resident Mario Hartmann refused to movement because the coin the authorities offered to purchase him out —$40 ,000 addition $10 ,000 inward moving costs , was non plenty to purchase a household somewhere else.
Peter Heyward , on the other manus , but likes the “silent stillness” of the surroundings. “The hills , the plains , the openness , the quiet. I dear the province ," he said.
Wittenoom inward 1966. Photo credit: lindsaybridge/Flickr
Wittenoom inward 1966. Photo credit: lindsaybridge/Flickr
Yampire Gorge Mine Engine – 1978. Photo credit: Philip Schubert/Flickr
Wittenoom inward 1962. Photo credit: Philip Schubert/Flickr
Wittenoom inward 1962. Photo credit: Philip Schubert/Flickr
Photo credit: Michael Theis/Flickr
Wittenoom’s advert deleted from route signs. Photo credit: Jurriaan Persyn/Flickr
State authorities alert sign close the entrance to Wittenoom. Photo credit: Five Years/Wikimedia
Mine tailings close Wittenoom. Photo credit: Five Years/Wikimedia
Photo credit: Five Years/Wikimedia
Photo credit: Five Years/Wikimedia
Sources: Wikipedia / www.watoday.com.au / Mental Floss / www.asbestosdiseases.org.au