The Netherlands Orders All Asbestos Roofs Removed by 2024

Although the Netherlands banned asbestos 22 years ago, officials continue eliminating the toxic mineral from the country’s infrastructure, most recently ordering all asbestos roofing be removed by Jan. 1, 2024. The removal only applies to exterior asbestos-containing materials such as corrugated sheets and slate roofing. It does not apply to interior asbestos roof boards and roof insulation. “The ban on [asbestos] roofing is a start,” David de Vreede, a technical advisor for the Dutch group Committee for Asbestos Victims, told Asbestos.com. “The goal is no asbestos in the country, but that will take a long time.” While the government is subsidizing some of the asbestos removal costs, experts predict the federal financial help is not enough. All 28 countries of the European Union, including the Netherlands, have banned the use of asbestos, which is linked to serious respiratory diseases and cancers such as mesothelioma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Netherlands reports high rates of asbestos-related deaths. Infographic: Asbestos in Europe Ban on Asbestos Roofs Will Prevent Exposure Wilma Mansveld, former Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Environment, led the roof ban, citing deteriorating roofs and recent fires as reasons for banning the asbestos building materials. “We have to take this risk seriously and tackle it. I want to prevent people from being exposed to asbestos fibers,” Mansveld said in a 2015 translated press release. ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: asbestos ban asbestos ban in europe asbestos cement roofs in the netherlands asbestos products asbestos removal asbestos use in the netherlands banned asbestos products Committee for Asbestos Victims David de Veerde mesothelioma in europ Source Type: news