Ban on popular benchtops being considered as wave of deadly illness sparks alarm
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A ban on popular artificial stone benchtops is being considered by a national taskforce grappling with spiralling rates of deadly silicosis in tradies.
Artificial stone has become ubiquitous in Australian kitchens and bathrooms since it hit the marketplace two decades ago as an affordable alternative to marble or granite.
Artificial stone contains up to 95 per cent silica, compared to less than 40 per cent silica in natural stone.
However, the home renovation trend has corresponded with an exponential rise in rates of silicosis among construction workers.
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Experts fear thousands of Australians are unaware they could have cancer because they ve avoided seeing their doctor due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Almost 150,000 fewer Australians than usual were tested for cancer during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Now, some of Australia s biggest cancer charities, have teamed up for the first time for the campaign New Normal, Same Cancer to urge anyone with any symptoms to stop putting off seeing their GP.
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Melbourne disability support worker Jemma Katz, 23, was diagnosed with Hodgkin s Lymphoma at the end of 2019.(Supplied)
CEO of government organisation Cancer Australia, Prof Dorothy Keefe, said it s important people don t wait any longer to get help.