A new book highlights the effects Mr. Fluffy, a form of loose asbestos insulation, has on the Australian capital of Canberra. The insulation was used extensively in the area by a sole contractor in the 1960s and 1970s and was later found to contain asbestos, a group of silicate minerals linked to the development of mesothelioma and other health concerns.
More than Bricks and Mortar—The Many Faces of Canberra’s Mr. Fluffy Homes highlights the magnitude of loss felt by those affected by Mr. Fluffy insulation through photos of hundreds of abandoned houses and homeowner accounts, according to The Canberra Times.
“This book is more for the Mr. Fluffy homeowners so there is a record of their house and so that people’s stories can be heard of what it was like for them to have to go through this,” Jennifer Nagy, author of the book, told The Times. ”It’s a very small token but I just feel like it’s important they have that.”
The Australian Capital Territory government released a list of 1,022 homes known to be affected by Mr. Fluffy in 2015 despite expert advice to the contrary, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports. It is estimated 30,000 people were affected by the asbestos crisis, which heightened in 2013 after a house that had undergone asbestos removal procedures years ago was found to still contain the deadly insulation.
Nagy’s book contains the accounts of 39 homeowners forced to leave their homes due to Mr. Fluffy, and addresses the uncertainty surrounding leaving a home behind. Nagy said when some of the featured homes were being demolished, breakfasts were still on the table from the day the owners left. “I just think that’s heartbreaking. What would it feel like to wake up in the morning, just eat your breakfast and walk out and just leave everything behind?” she said. For more information on the book, visit blurb.com.
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