Asbestos remediation in the Cook Islands : a long-term solution for making schools safer
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Other Title
Authors
Berry, Terri-Ann
Wairepo, Daniel
Wairepo, Daniel
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2015-12-22
Supervisors
Type
Conference Contribution - Paper in Published Proceedings
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
asbestos abatement
asbestos in building
asbestos contamination
soil contamination
schools
roofs
Super Six roofing
Rarotonga (Cook Islands)
Cook Islands
Pasifika
asbestos in building
asbestos contamination
soil contamination
schools
roofs
Super Six roofing
Rarotonga (Cook Islands)
Cook Islands
Pasifika
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Berry, T-A. & Wairepo, D.(2015). Asbestos remediation in the cook islands : a long-term solution for making schools safer. In M. Panko & L. Kestle (Eds.). Building Today - Saving Tomorrow: Sustainability In Construction And Deconstruction Conference Proceedings. (pp. 6-17). Auckland, New Zealand: Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from: www.unitec.ac.nz/epress/
Abstract
Asbestos contamination in the South Pacific originates mainly from construction products containing asbestos (SPREP, 2011). In Rarotonga, asbestos contamination in the soil surrounding two schools examined (Nikao Maori and Avatea) is believed to have originated from the Super Six roofing product that previously covered all existing classrooms on the site. This type of roofing becomes brittle and susceptible to increased weathering as the product ages. The weathering process from the sun, wind and rain releases the asbestos fibres into the environment (Bowler, 2014). The roofing has only recently been replaced with corrugated iron. The aim of this research was to identify remedial solutions for the removal and disposal of contaminated soil around the schools and for the future earthworks in Rarotonga.
Four potential solutions were identified including:
i. Capping the contaminated material on-site;
i i . Removal and disposal of the contaminated material to local landfill;
iii. Removal and disposal of the contaminated material internationally;
iv. Removal and disposal of the contaminated material at sea.
Solutions considered the feasibility of each option (both in the short and long-term), minimising impact on the residents and the workers exposed, reducing environmental impact and assessing the financial implications for each option
Publisher
Unitec Institute of Technology
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DOI
Copyright holder
Unitec Institute of Technology
Copyright notice
Asbestos remediation in the Cook Islands : a long-term solution for making schools safer, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 New Zealand
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 New Zealand