SYDNEY (Reuters) - An asbestos contamination in Sydney widened on Sunday, with authorities saying the toxic material had been detected in more schools, as a weeks-long effort continued to remove it from mulch used in public places.
In an update on the contamination on Sunday, the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said 34 city sites had now returned positive for bonded asbestos.
New sites where asbestos had been confirmed were two schools in the city's west, the EPA said, lifting the number of schools confirmed as tainted to four.
"There is ongoing testing at a further four schools," EPA head Tony Chappel said, adding that testing was also underway at a hospital and in part of the city's vast Royal National Park.
(Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Persons:
Tony Chappel, Sam McKeith, Christian Schmollinger
Organizations:
SYDNEY, Environmental Protection Authority, Royal, Asbestos
Locations:
Sydney, New South Wales