Asbestos Despite ban still a danger

Asbestos: Despite ban still a danger

11/16/2011

Although the production and use of asbestos has been banned in Germany since 1993, more than 1,000 people die each year as a result of asbestos according to the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Recently, the trade union Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) spoke of a high health risk in the case of refurbishment work in Darmstadt, if one does not pay enough attention to the risk of asbestos. In addition to the danger of redevelopment, it has now become known that in the area of ​​Wunstorf-Luthe in Lower Saxony, asbestos findings on arable land used for food production near a former factory of the company Fulgurit were made.

Why is asbestos hazardous to health??
For a long time, asbestos was considered a miracle fiber in the construction industry. Due to its high resistance and stability, it has been used for decades, among others, in the construction and shipping industry. However, asbestos is highly dangerous to health. The processing of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials releases asbestos fibers that adhere to the alveoli and cause asbestosis, a pneumoconiosis that often causes lung cancer, even at low levels of stress.

There may be several decades between the damage and the onset of the disease, so it can be assumed that most of the deaths in recent years due to asbestos contacts occurred before the 1993 ban on the production and use of asbestos.

Asbestos removal in Darmstadt
As IG BAU informs, asbestos-containing materials have been used in many houses in Darmstadt, so there is now an increased health risk in the renovation work. Asbestos can be found both in night storage heaters, floor coverings and cover panels. It is urgently advised to hire specialist companies to dispose of the materials. Respiratory masks and protective clothing are an absolute must in dealing with the carcinogenic substances.

Worrying asbestos finds on arable land near Wunstorf-Luthe
Near a former factory of the company Fulgurit in the area Wunstorf-Luthe in Lower Saxony alarming asbestos findings were made on arable land. The Environmental Network - Office for Environmental Issues in Hamburg reports that the asbestos deposits around the former production site have been known for a long time, but the authorities have not taken the responsibility to intervene. Mr. Priebs, the Environment Commissioner of the Hannover Region, stated that in this case there is no competence of the authorities, because it is about asbestos finds on private land. Despite the well-known dangers of asbestos, it seems that political interests and bureaucratic procedures are in the way of a solution acceptable to the population. The population is very worried, especially after it has become known that no official measurements of soils, groundwater and air have been carried out so that there is no risk assessment from which the appropriate measures could be derived, the environmental network continues to report. According to research by the NDR even the highly dangerous blue asbestos on the fields has been found. (Ag)

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Picture: Jan Tornack