More than 3,140 buildings in the Azores have asbestos roofing, according to recent data on the autonomous region. Asbestos, also known as asbestos fiber, was a widely used material in civil construction throughout much of the 20th century, but has become a public health concern due to the risks associated with exposure to its fibers.
The overwhelming majority of these buildings, almost 90%, are privately owned. This means that the responsibility for the removal and replacement of asbestos roofing falls mainly on individual property owners, which can represent a significant challenge in terms of costs and logistics.
The asbestos issue in the Azores is part of a broader problem at the national and European level, where many old buildings still contain this dangerous material. The removal of asbestos roofing is considered a public health priority, given that exposure to asbestos can cause serious diseases, including various types of cancer.
