Asbestos in buildings still a problem

Several million buildings in Germany built or refurbished before October 1993 may still contain asbestos today. In addition to asbestos cement products, the carcinogenic substance is contained in plasters, floor coverings or tile adhesives, in places where the asbestos is not immediately visible and poses no risk under normal use. As soon as these materials are processed - by drilling, chipping or sanding - there is a risk that carcinogenic fibers are released. A new guideline offers advice, especially to non-specialists, on what to consider when planning renovation and DIY work. The guideline was jointly developed by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) and the German Environment Agency (UBA). 

CONTINUE READING ON www.umweltbundesamt.de (Automatically translated from German)