A study by CIRE Ile-de-France (inter-regional epidemiology unit) highlighted eleven cases linked with environmental exposure (2 of them strictly environmental and 9 for which exposure other than environmental was considered negligible by experts) of people who lived within less than 400 metres of the CMMP site in Aulnay-sous-Bois (93) but who never worked there.
The Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning reiterates the actions undertaken around industrial sites that have used asbestos and around natural asbestos outcrops.
Industrial sites
The ban on asbestos usage instituted in 1996 has led the industrial sites that used or processed asbestos to thoroughly review their manufacturing process or partially shut down their activity.
The ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning listed a little over 300 sites that potentially used asbestos in the past. This list was established based on a report by the BRGM, the BASIAS database (sites that hosted industrial and service activities that may have caused soil pollution) available for nearly all French departments on the Internet and on data from the DRIRE (Regional Directorates for Industry, Research and the Environment).
The assessment of the national action as of 15/10/2007 is as follows:
- The number of industrial sites concerned is currently over 300.
- For nearly 250 sites, the Inspectorate of classified installations already has information regarding activity closure history and the precautions taken; it should be noted that the search for information was a difficult process due to the fact that a lot of sites had stopped their activity for a number of years and their former location was often completely redeveloped.
- Over 120 sites were inspected by the Inspectorate of classified installations with a view to gathering the additional information required.
- Over 60 sites, 20 of which contain asbestos waste.
The Inspectorate of classified installations has imposed management measures such as waste disposal or the implementation of public easements (4 easements already created, 16 pending).
- Over 60 sites were subject to considerable redevelopment (sites turned into shopping centres for example). In this case, the land that may have been affected by pollution is covered by a concrete slab or a car park.
It should be pointed out that the potential impact of these sites on the environment and human health was associated with their operating period. As the use of asbestos has been prohibited for over 10 years, the only purpose of the action undertaken was to guarantee that these sites had been made safe.
Natural outcrops
There are natural asbestos outcrops in France, in particular in the Haute Corse department.
Epidemiological studies have revealed a higher percentage of asbestos-related pathologies in populations who were not exposed to asbestos in their workplace. There is therefore a genuine risk associated with “passive” exposure to environmental asbestos.
In 2005, the listing and classification of natural asbestos sites and potentially natural asbestos geological formations was carried out.
The Haute Corse department is particularly concerned with an estimated asbestos outcrop surface area of 180 km2 over 133 towns. The mapping of the asbestos hazard for the entire department was finalised in November 2006, followed by the mapping on the scale of the cadastral parcel on the Murato town in January 2007.
Since 1997, the labour inspection services of the Haute-Corse department have been striving to enforce the obligations of business leaders in the construction and civil engineering industry to protect their employees from environmental asbestos.
A problem has also been identified in New Caledonia. Afsset will be in charge of the issue, which is closely monitored by the ministries in charge of health, labour and ecology, with the purpose of reinforcing the measures aimed at minimising risks.
Generally speaking, Afsset is in charge of examining the issue of fine and short asbestos fibres, its work covering all types of exposure, including exposure to natural asbestos.
Associated documents
Circular regarding former industrial asbestos mining or processing sites
Map of the sites targeted by the Circular
Note on environmental asbestos