An Australian National University investigation into the toxic legacy of Mr Fluffy has found mesothelioma cases have increased in Canberra over the past three decades.
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The first of four reports commissioned by the ACT government and published on Monday confirmed one person had been diagnosed with the cancerous disease while living inside a Mr Fluffy home.
But mesothelioma cases in the ACT increased from nine in 1994-1996 to 32 in 2009-11, one of the biggest increases in the country.
Since 1982, 140 mesothelioma cases have been reported to the ACT Cancer Registry, with 113 men diagnosed and 27 women.
Almost one third of those diagnosed were aged between 65 and 74 years, and only 5 per cent of people were younger than 45.
ACT Health Minister Simon Corbell said he was worried by the increase although the incidence of mesothelioma in the territory was now similar with other jurisdictions.
"While that jump is a cause for concern it is also important to note that in the ACT, similar to the rest of the country, this cancer is mainly diagnosed in older males suggesting the cause may be more likely due to occupational exposure," he said.
"While the reason for higher diagnosis for older males is uncertain, it is hoped that the ANU study may shed some light on this."
Exposure to Mr Fluffy asbestos was listed as a possible explanation for the increase although the authors warned this was not a definitive explanation.
Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos was installed in 1022 Canberra houses between 1968 and 1979, with the ACT government set to buy back and demolish all affected homes using a $1 billion loan from the Commonwealth.
On average, the life expectancy for those diagnosed with mesothelioma is nine months, with few surviving longer than two years.
The one person identified as living inside a Mr Fluffy home at the time of diagnosis was described as potentially significant, although further research was called for.
"More information is needed about the time during which this person lived in an affected residential property (ARP) and even with that information, causation could be at most inferred not established," the report said.
"Furthermore there are likely to be people diagnosed with mesothelioma who lived in a Mr Fluffy house but who had moved by the time of the diagnosis, so the register will not record these people as being in an ARP."
The study, led by the ANU National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, acknowledged the small number of mesothelioma cases in the ACT resulted in some statistical uncertainty, with more detailed studies required.
"The health risks associated with living in a Mr Fluffy house are the subject of further studies within the ACT Asbestos Health Study, which may provide more evidence regarding the relationship between ARPs and mesothelioma," the report said.
Earlier this year a report by emeritus professor Bruce Armstrong, who assisted with the ANU report, found Mr Fluffy residents have an additional 16 in 100,000 lifetime risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma as a result of living in an asbestos-contaminated house.
The government-funded report will produce another three studies and has also called on expertise at the Sax Institute, the Sydney School of Public Health, and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
The researchers will now hold focus groups with current and recent Mr Fluffy residents to discuss their health related concerns.
Eventually, the study will link data sets to estimate the risk of developing mesothelioma for Mr Fluffy residents compared with the general population.
The final results of the study will be released in 2017.
