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The BAuA publishes a report reviewing the use of asbestos and its consequences in the past few decades.
In Germany, the use of asbestos has been prohibited since 1993. And yet, even today, 1500 people die each year of a disease related to this natural material. Between 1994 and 2012, there were a total of more than 26,000 asbestos victims. Most of the deaths were due to tumours of the connective tissues (34%) and lung and laryngeal cancers (24%). The cost of medical care and pensions paid to the patients and their legal beneficiaries amounted to €6.1 billion for the period 1990-2012. This figure could reach €10 billion in coming years.
Accordingly, more than 20 years after its prohibition, asbestos is still a major public health and workplace health problem. Since 2001, 4 million tonnes of waste containing asbestos have been produced, and more than 35 million tonnes of materials containing the substance are still used, in the form of asbestos cement. Around 89,000 workers are estimated to be still in contact with products containing asbestos.
Download the report (In German)
