The European Commission wants to considerably tighten up the directive against asbestos pollution. Brussels wants to tighten the limit value established fifteen years ago by a factor of ten: from 0.1 to 0.01 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter of air.
Last year, the European Parliament even called for the limit to be lowered by a factor of 100. EU Social Affairs Commissioner Nicolas Schmit says that with such small values it becomes difficult to measure compliance accurately. At the same time, costs for companies would rise sharply. That is why Schmidt now finds ten times stricter standards sufficient.
Several EU countries already voluntarily prescribe the stricter limit of 0.01. After the sharpening, workers will have to wear better protective clothing and respirators. When processing or disposing of waste containing asbestos, protective films should prevent asbestos fibers from spreading. This is already happening in many EU countries.
All asbestos has been banned in the EU since 2005, but despite this, the substance is still present in older buildings. Workers are most at risk of being exposed to cancer-causing asbestos. It is already used as a raw material in many products (floor covering; hard plastics, heat-resistant sheets; roofing, etc.).
Processing this also creates a danger for employees and bystanders; a tiny fluff of asbestos that gets into the lungs can still be fatal after many years.
The European Commission's argument that tenfold is strict enough does not convince the European trade union federation ETUC. Deputy boss Claes-Mikael Ståhl complains that the committee has "unfortunately sided with the business community" in the dispute between scientists and corporate lobbyists about the correct upper limit.