Asbestos

Although the production, placing on the market, and use of asbestos-containing materials have been banned in the European Union (EU) for several decades, and asbestos-containing waste is classified as hazardous waste, they are still widely found in Latvian households. It is estimated that the total volume of asbestos slate roofs in Latvian households is around 1 million tons. Within the framework of the informative campaign "Let the old asbestos roof go away!" implemented by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MEPRD), residents are encouraged to responsibly dispose of asbestos-containing materials found in households and to dispose of waste at landfill sites.

How much asbestos-containing slate is there in Latvia?

In the 2023 assessment by MEPRD on the volume of asbestos-containing waste in Latvian municipalities, the need for its management, and determining the potential support level for households, it was concluded that there are approximately 1 million tons of asbestos-containing slate on building roofs in Latvia. In the municipalities of Pieriga, the volume of slate roofs is up to about 10 thousand tons, while in other districts and major cities of Latvia, the volume of slate roofs reaches up to 40 thousand tons. The largest volume of slate roofs is in Riga and the South Kurzeme region, reaching approximately 49 and 53 thousand tons respectively. The proportion of slate roofs covering residential buildings, with some exceptions, is similar in all municipalities – around 60% are attributed to non-residential buildings, and around 40% are attributed to residential buildings.

Asbestos is still widely found in Latvian households on the roofs of residential, utility, and industrial buildings, and if in good condition, it can remain on roofs. Asbestos is often found as thermal insulation material in buildings constructed during the Soviet era, in thermal nodes insulation, water pipes, or as asbestos cement used in building finishes.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral, and its history of use dates back 4500 years. As industry developed, its physical properties – mechanical strength, flexibility, thermal resistance, chemical resistance, fire resistance, and wide range of applications – were highly valued, and it was relatively inexpensive. Only later, after asbestos-containing materials were widely used worldwide, was its negative impact on human health observed. Scientists began to warn about the carcinogenic properties of asbestos with the modern industrialization boom in the Western world.

For several decades, the production, placing on the market, and use of asbestos-containing materials have been banned in the EU, and asbestos-containing waste is classified as hazardous waste. It is prohibited to dispose of them together with household or other waste, and they must be disposed of only at waste management landfills to prevent air, soil, and groundwater contamination with asbestos carcinogens that can enter the human body and cause serious illnesses, such as cancer.

What is the impact of asbestos on the environment and human health?

Building materials containing asbestos deteriorate over time due to wear and erosion, posing a threat to human health during building and structure demolition work, as well as after their disposal in waste circulation. Asbestos fibers are very fine and have a crystalline structure, making them hazardous to health as they can be inhaled in dust form. When these fibers enter the lungs, they remain in lung tissues and can cause very serious and fatal diseases over time, including oncological diseases. Meanwhile, when they come into contact with the skin, asbestos fibers can cause irritation or allergies. The latency period for diseases ranges from 10 to 40 years, so individuals exposed to asbestos should undergo regular lung examinations to diagnose and start treatment in a timely manner.

Some asbestos-containing materials (such as slate, asbestos-containing linoleum, and insulation materials) are easily flammable. During the combustion process of such easily flammable materials, asbestos fibers are released into the air, causing environmental pollution.

Given the harmful and carcinogenic effects of asbestos, health and environmental specialists encourage residents of Latvia to responsibly dispose of household asbestos-containing products and waste at landfill sites. Information on safe asbestos handling is available in the Handbook for Working with Asbestos-Containing Waste developed by MEPRD.

Information on options for disposing of asbestos-containing waste can be found on the website skiroviegli.lv or in your municipality.

*To determine the total volume of asbestos-containing roofs, the assessment used data from the State Land Service on buildings with slate roof coverings. Using the method prepared by the Contractor, the volume of asbestos-containing roof coverings was evaluated.