The federal agency set up to lead action on asbestos has warned the danger it poses is “far from over”.

A natural mineral, asbestos can can cause lung, ovary and larynx cancer or mesothelioma when those handling it breathe in the fibres.

However, its dangers were not well known in Australia until the second half of the 20th century and its temperature resistance made it an effective insulator widely used in construction.

This means asbestos is still found in one in every three Australian homes.

As silicosis becomes a focus for governments, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency CEO Justine Ross says Australians cannot forget about the risks of asbestos.

“We sought to challenge complacency within the Australian community by reminding them that the danger from asbestos is far from over,” she says in the agency’s annual report.

More than 90 per cent of Australians know where to source trusted information about asbestos and about 80 per cent know about asbestos and its health risks, the report says.

However, many Australians do not act safely when dealing with asbestos due to behavioural barriers such as a lack of knowledge about where asbestos can be found in a home.

Though many understand it is found in building insulation, it can also be used in cement pipes, floor tiles, adhesives, roofing, car parts like brake pads, textiles and textured paints.

More than one-third of home improvers who encountered asbestos admitted to disposing of it through illegal methods, such as throwing it into kerbside bins.

Most local government bodies consider asbestos a significant issue but 20 per cent do not have active interventions for illegal asbestos disposal.

Those that do are focused on retrospective action such as surveillance, enforcement and clean up rather than preventive measures that would stop illegal dumping in the first place.

– AAP