Asbestos in our environment

The case in Western Hungary

The recent asbestos scandal has sparked significant controversy in Western Hungary, where air measurements taken in public streets showed levels many times higher than the allowable limit at several locations. The hazardous material originates from crushed stone used on roads which, according to news reports, comes from Austrian quarries and may have reached various other regions in Hungary and several European countries.

Asbestos was widely used in the last century due to its heat and fire resistance—for example, in roofing for residential buildings and in firefighter vests. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that asbestos, which easily breaks down into fine fibers, poses severe health risks. These microscopic fibers can enter the alveoli of the lungs, causing inflammation and, over time, lung cancer. Under the harmonized classification of the CLP Regulation, asbestos is categorized as Carcinogenic 1A (Carc. 1A), meaning its ability to cause cancer in humans is proven. The mining of asbestos is also prohibited.

Natural occurrence and spread

Regrettably, asbestos is a naturally occurring contaminant that can be found in many places. This was the case with the crushed stone as well, though the presence of the material in a bound state poses no issue. The danger arises when asbestos fibers become airborne and can be inhaled. This is a very real threat on road surfaces, where passing vehicles, windy weather, and everyday dust-generating activities contribute to dispersing the fibers into the air.