Asbestos Warning: Mesothelioma asbestos located beneath playground

Large quantities of asbestos have been uncovered by workers at a playground in Yeppoon, Australia, reports The Morning Bulletin. Contractors were installing a sewer line in the park when the hazardous material was discovered.

Work on the park has been delayed, until experts learn how much asbestos resides beneath the playground. The site has been fenced in order to protect the public.

Asbestos is a toxic material, most commonly found in older homes and buildings. Due to its fire retarded qualities, the material was previously used in a variety of construction materials, including tile flooring, roofing and drywall. Exposure to the material has been known to cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the most rare and aggressive asbestos-related cancer, known to form from the body’s mesothelium.

Due to a latency period of 10 to 50 years, mesothelioma doctors tend to diagnose patients in the later stages of their disease. Once diagnosed, patients must undergo painful clinical therapies.

The $785,000 playground, slated to open towards the end of September, has been designed for children with disabilities. Features of the park include a sensory garden, sand pit, climbing nets and a cycle track. The opening date, however, will most likely be extended.

The asbestos was discovered 1 meter deep, within a number of areas across the park. For now, the asbestos has been reburied.