Asbestos concerns keep four Burgenland quarries closed

Four quarries in Burgenland have been closed since January because of asbestos concerns, and their future remains undecided. ORF reports that a public discussion on the risks is due to take place in Großpetersdorf on Wednesday evening.

The quarries in Rumpersdorf, Badersdorf, Bernstein and Pilgersdorf were shut by authorities because of an “immediate danger”. Serpentinite rock extracted there can naturally contain asbestos. Inhaling small fibres can cause cancer.

Greenpeace warned of the dangers in January and reported asbestos contamination in several communities and public places. The state set up a task force and commissioned air measurements. Quarry operators spoke publicly in April to criticise the closure of their workplaces. The quarries remain shut, with a decision from the responsible authorities still pending.

The ORF Burgenland discussion series “Ein Ort am Wort” will be held at the Wurglits inn in Großpetersdorf, in the Oberwart district. The discussion will address the future of the quarries, possible health risks from contaminated gravel roads and what people should do if they have such gravel on their property.

Residents of Großpetersdorf and other communities are invited to attend and put questions to the panel. Entry is free from 6.30pm, and no registration is required. The panel includes Pilgersdorf quarry manager Frank Eichhorn; lawyer Andreas Temmel and environmental physician Hans-Peter Hutter, both members of the state asbestos task force; geochemist Maximilian Mandl, founder of ungiftig.at; and Greenpeace’s Stefan Stadler.

ORF will stream the one-hour event from 7.30pm on burgenland.ORF.at, ORF ON and ORF SOUND. A summary is scheduled for “Burgenland heute” on Thursday, October 1, at 7pm on ORF 2/B and on burgenland.ORF.at.