The presence of asbestos in our environment is one of the major public health problems facing society in the next decade. This material highly carcinogenic and completely prohibited since 2002, endures in a multitude of buildings and facilities both in the urban, as in the rural, although one of the major focuses is in the industrial estates.
Asbestos – Uralita was the commercial brand with which it was popularized in Spain – it was a very appreciated material in the construction sector, due to its insulating and fire resistant conditions. Mainly in the 70s and 80s, coinciding with the construction of most industrial estates, the use of asbestos experienced its apogee. It was soon confirmed that when it decomposes, the fibers remain in suspension and inhaling them can cause serious pulmonary affections. It is estimated that this degradation, depending on the medium in which it is, occurs between 30 and 40 years after its installation. This assumes that the asbestos of the polygons has already reached the end of its useful life or is about to do so.
Although currently there is no regional, national or international legislation that requires its withdrawal, the European Parliament has approved to set as an objective for its removal from any construction or installation, the year 2028, within less than a decade, although that agreement is lacking widely majority is translated into directive.
One of the biggest problems with asbestos removal is the lack of an exhaustive radiograph of its presence.