The presence of asbestos, a group of minerals used in construction and linked to diseases such as cancer, extends beyond just school roofs, with its removal progressing slowly, said Carmen Lima during a parliamentary Environment Committee hearing.
The president of SOS Amianto highlighted that 4,000 different applications of asbestos have been identified globally, ranging from toilet cisterns to plumbing pipes, flooring, and false ceilings in both public and private buildings, addressing the deputies.
According to the association, a Portuguese asbestos strategy has been requested for over a decade, with concerns raised about the absence of a licensing model for companies engaged in asbestos removal, insufficient regulatory oversight, and a lack of health monitoring for former asbestos factory workers.
Responding to deputies’ inquiries about a new directive requiring Portugal to conduct an asbestos inventory by year-end, Carmen Lima noted that Portuguese law already mandates such inventories for both public buildings and private workplace locations. She emphasized the importance of conducting these inventories and providing necessary training.
“In Portugal, with eight hours of training, we allow workers to remove asbestos,” she warned, pointing out the lack of public notification when asbestos removal takes place in specific areas.
Highlighting the scarcity of data on asbestos in buildings, Carmen Lima noted that asbestos is banned in 66 countries, yet products containing “mineral fibers” continue to enter Europe.
As an environmental engineer and asbestos specialist, Lima stressed that the discourse often focuses on school roofs, neglecting other areas, and reiterated that former asbestos factory workers remain largely unsupported.
The SOS Amianto website reveals that mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, claims 36 lives annually in Portugal, with the effects potentially taking 20 years to emerge, and only 3% of asbestos-related diseases being reported.
In a document presented at the parliamentary hearing, the association states that asbestos is responsible for more than 70,000 annual deaths in Europe and is linked to approximately 78% of identified occupational cancers in the European Union.
SOS Amianto advocates for an urgent national strategy to establish a coordinating entity, enforce inventory requirements, and strengthen inspection, protection, and medical surveillance efforts.
“Sector deregulation and lack of government leadership position Portugal unfavorably regarding the challenges posed by the Community Directive,” the association cautions.
