Due to its high insulation capacity, and high resistance to fire and corrosion, asbestos was widely used in industry until its ban in 2005.

Asbestos is only dangerous to health when its fibres are inhaled. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled in the form of dust after active handling or as a result of degrading asbestos material. Workers who come into contact with asbestos are, therefore, particularly at risk.

It can take up to 30 years for the first symptoms of a disease caused by asbestos to appear. According to the EU occupational diseases statistics gathered by Eurostat, 78% of recognised cases of occupational cancer in the EU are related to asbestos.

78% of occupational cancer cases are related to asbestos