There is currently no comprehensive ban on asbestos worldwide. Individual countries, mainly in Northern Europe, first introduced asbestos bans in the 1980s. The mining, processing and use of products containing asbestos continues to be a serious problem for human health and the environment.
Asbestos fibers
Furnishing children’s rooms with low levels of harmful substances
Children spend most of their time in their room, where they sleep, play or retreat to study. Their parents are often unaware of how heavily contaminated with pollutants these rooms can be. They can come from floors, furniture, textiles or plastic toys, for example. Pollutants in children’s rooms can affect their health and development.
Tightening of asbestos limits – health protection
On October 23, 2023, the Council of the European Union approved a new EU directive to prevent and improve the health protection of workers from possible exposure to asbestos and other pollutants at the workplace. The new regulations also include new rules such as stricter asbestos limit values and modern measurement techniques to protect and the prevention of asbestos hazards.
Asbestos wave – asbestos in old buildings
The Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) warns of a new danger from asbestos in buildings. With the imminent major renovation wave for modernization, conversions and energy saving, an“asbestos wave” threatens to hit the construction industry in the coming decades. Construction workers and DIY enthusiasts will be exposed to major health risks if they inhale the asbestos fibers that are released.
Release of asbestos fibers from fiber cement boards
Fiber cement boards that are traded and installed today are generally considered to be harmless to health, as they are made of modern substitute materials and are free of carcinogenic asbestos fibers. However, for houses built from the mid-1960s to the 1990s, it is often suspected that the fiber cement panels installed still contain the asbestos fibers that were previously mixed in and are harmful to health. These can be released with increasing weathering during renovation or refurbishment.
Harmful asbestos in serpentinite rock
Serpentinite, a dark greenish natural stone with characteristic spots and whitish bands, is mainly used as a decorative stone. Serpentinite is still used today for flooring, cladding and other decorative products. However, serpentinite can release harmful asbestos fibers under certain conditions. These dangers exist above all when serpentinite is worked or broken .
Asbestos measurement – with SG12
The GSA measuring devices SG12 is specially designed for measuring asbestos and for sampling inorganic fibrous particles such as KMF in accordance with VDI 3492 and ISO 14966. According to VDI 3492, eight hours are sufficient for sampling. According to DGUV 213-546, measurement at the workplace is possible in two hours. The SG12 can be used stationary for fiber measurements of asbestos fibers as well as for particle measurements of the dust fractions A-dust and E-dust.
Asbestos measurement often necessary
Asbestos measurement for suspected asbestos fibers
If there is a suspected risk from asbestos fibers, fibre measurements must be carried out. Such fibre measurements for asbestos fibres can be carried out using our SG12 measuring devices for asbestos measurement.
Fibre measurements of asbestos fibers
Fiber measurements of asbestos fibers with GSA measuring devices SG12
Our SG12 measuring device can be used to carry out fibre measurements in the event of potential health risks from asbestos. The measuring device SG12 is suitable for fibre measurements of asbestos fibers indoors.
If exposure to asbestos fibers is suspected, an expert asbestos test is an advantage. We will be happy to answer any further questions you may have.
