by Anett Schwarz
BUDAPEST / VIENNA — An investigation launched following a residential complaint in western Hungary has now evolved into a case involving hundreds of potentially affected sites, Austrian mining stakeholders, environmental organizations, and authorities. (This article reflects the publicly available information and the status of official proceedings as of mid-May 2026.) According to publicly available official documents, Greenpeace Austria publications, publicly available laboratory reports, and other documentary materials reviewed by our editorial team, materials deposited in public areas over the past several years have, in certain samples, been found to contain naturally occurring amphibole asbestos.The investigations primarily focus on whether the extracted and marketed stone material complied with the regulatory requirements valid at the time, and to what extent the regulations concerning the presence of naturally occurring asbestos proved sufficient to protect the public and the environment. A precise understanding of the scientific background and geological facts is essential for clarity; professional guidance on this issue is provided by Prof. Dr. Tivadar M. Tóth, university professor at the University of Szeged (SZTE), President of the Hungarian Geological Society, and Chair of the Scientific Committee on Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Petrology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA).
While several media outlets previously described asbestos simply as a pollutant, Prof. M. Tóth explains:
“Rocks are materials of generally complex composition, formed as a result of natural processes that make up the solid Earth. Minerals, on the other hand, are natural compounds with a well-defined chemical composition and an ordered internal structure (crystal structure). Rocks consist of minerals, and since any small volume of the Earth is usually chemically heterogeneous, the rock itself necessarily consists of multiple minerals. There simply is no mineral that can accommodate such a wide variety of chemical elements all at once. In this given case, asbestos is a mineral, or rather, a certain group of minerals is called asbestos minerals. And there are rocks in which, as a result of certain petrological processes, some of the chemical constituents arrange themselves precisely into asbestos minerals. These were quarries where rocks were mined that contained asbestos minerals in quantities ranging from a few percent up to 50%. These rocks are not dangerous in themselves; it is the method of their utilization that makes them a hazardous material. Any application during which asbestos fibers can be released from the rock is risky. Where this is not possible, there is no risk. At this point, it is also worth defining the concept of (environmental) pollution. Human activity is considered pollution if it introduces a substance into the environment that causes harmful changes or a deterioration of living conditions there. Regarding the problem at hand, therefore, the asbestos-containing rock in its own natural place of occurrence is not pollution, since it was not introduced by human activity. Likewise, asbestos-containing rock is not a pollutant if its use does not cause harmful changes.”
According to industry data published by Greenpeace Austria, large quantities of serpentinite rock were extracted and sold from the four affected mines. A central element of international professional discussions is the functioning of current regulatory systems. While the European Union phased out processed asbestos products decades ago, the current case raises professional questions: what mandatory geological threshold or inspection protocol should be incorporated into the REACH regulation to precisely regulate the future use of amphibole-containing geological formations as construction aggregates? Prof. Dr. Tivadar M. Tóth illuminates the legal and scientific frameworks as follows:
“Although the question is largely legal in nature, I will attempt to answer its geological aspect. The REACH regulation, as its name indicates (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), applies to the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemical substances. A natural rock is not a chemical substance, so by default, it does not fall under the scope of the REACH regulation. On the other hand, this exemption ceases if the given rock, after its extraction, meets the classification criteria for hazardous substances, e.g., because it contains proven carcinogenic asbestos minerals. Based on all this, the moment the serpentinites in question were mined, they must be treated as hazardous chemical substances in a legal sense. Whether it is necessary to modify the regulation and the limit values contained therein, I cannot judge, but it would probably be sufficient to adhere to the current rules. Nevertheless, I consider extending the scope of the regulation to all amphibole-containing rocks to be an unenforceable and senseless tightening, since most members of the extremely large amphibole group are completely harmless to the environment and are essential rock-forming minerals of many widely used rocks (e.g., andesite). The example might be distant, but just because the alkaloid of belladonna, atropine, is hallucinogenic and deadly poisonous, and thus its consumption is highly unadvisable, it would be a huge mistake to officially ban its close relative, the potato. In short, the ban on asbestos-containing rocks must be strictly observed and enforced, but this cannot result in the systematic banning of ‘innocent’ rocks from industrial practice.”
According to publicly available Austrian regulatory documents, an amendment to Austrian federal regulations introduced a 0.1% threshold for asbestos-containing materials.
Independent, accredited measurements play a central role in official investigations and the precise determination of rock composition. Commissioned by Greenpeace Austria, the official laboratory tests conducted by the German Biolab Umweltanalysen GmbH Braunschweig showed the following results, according to the measurement protocols published by the organization:
| Sample Number | Location and Sample Type (based on Greenpeace documentation) | Detected Mineral | Estimated Mass Percentage (Biolab results) |
|---|---|---|---|
| P2604448 | Winden am See, Train Station (crushed stone next to waiting room) | Tremolite asbestos | > 50% |
| P2604449 | Breitenbrunn, Train Station (crushed stone next to stop) | Tremolite asbestos | > 50% |
| P2604450 | Breitenbrunn, Train Station (parking lot, winter road grit) | Tremolite asbestos | > 50% |
| P2604451 | Hartberg, Bahnhofstraße 20 (road shoulder) | Tremolite asbestos | 5% – 20% |
| P2604452 | Hartberg, Lagerhaus Wechselgau (coarse crushed stone) | Tremolite asbestos | > 50% |
| P2604453 | Neudau, Main Square (parking lot and sidewalk next to church) | Tremolite asbestos | > 50% |
According to recent information from the ORF, the asbestos issue crossing the Hungarian-Austrian border now directly affects the Austrian capital as well. Greenpeace’s investigative report pointed out that asbestos-containing rock was detected in eight public areas in Vienna (along sections of Rosenhügelstraße, Triester Straße, Wernergasse, Bertegasse, Wastlgasse, Stieglergasse, Anton-Freunschlag-Gasse, and Reibergasse). Furthermore, they highlighted that among these, Rosenhügelstraße (where amphibole asbestos was detected) and Triester Straße are considered exceptionally high-traffic main roads, which Greenpeace evaluates as particularly noteworthy. Based on data from Hungarian official and municipal investigations, as well as from experts and civil organizations participating in the inquiries, serpentinite crushed stone originating from the Burgenland mines in question has also been imported and laid down across Vas, Zala, and Győr-Moson-Sopron counties over the past few years.
According to municipal data, one of the most significantly affected areas is located in the Olad Plateau region of Szombathely, where available records indicate that roughly 22–24 streets were paved with the questioned crushed stone, affecting a substantial number of residents. During official laboratory tests conducted here, amphibole asbestos was detected in 54 out of 70 samples examined by the authorities. Action was similarly taken in the city of Kőszeg, where, according to municipal resolutions, local authorities introduced a 10 km/h speed limit on 46 public streets and closed 10 public parking lots to mitigate dust formation.
To facilitate residential reporting, Greenpeace has launched a much-needed digital platform. Using the interactive map available on the interface, residents of Austria and neighboring countries can report suspected asbestos sources. The environmental organization hopes that, beyond its informative nature, this will serve as a signal to decision-makers to enforce immediate action. In the database, alongside locations already officially investigated or registered as affected, the status of previously successfully remediated sites can also be tracked by anyone.
Prof. Dr. Tivadar M. Tóth explains the physical and rock mechanics reasons for dust formation and the release of fibers into the air with the following engineering correlations:
“In engineering practice, the resistance of rocks to fragmentation is measured using the so-called Los Angeles (LA) abrasion test. The lower this value, the more resistant the rock. While the LA value of andesite used as railway ballast is extremely low, that of asbestos-containing serpentinite is very high. This means that the pieces of crushed stone used for paving roads wear intensely due to the friction of vehicle tires, which directly leads to the formation of asbestos-containing dust. It is well known that asbestos minerals have a fibrous, needle-like appearance; it is precisely this property that allows their versatile use. The vast majority of the minerals in the rocks that make up the Earth belong to the silicates for the simple reason that silicon (after oxygen) is the second most common building element of the Earth’s crust. The crystal shapes of the nearly 1,500 different silicate minerals are extremely diverse. Amphibole asbestos can split along its longitudinal axis into virtually unlimited, increasingly thinner, respirable needles. According to medical knowledge, the probability that airborne asbestos dust will cause health damage is very high. Consequently, the environmental risk of the open application of crushed stone significantly exceeds society’s reasonable threshold of risk tolerance.”
Regarding environmental health aspects, publications by international research institutes provide professional reference points. According to data published by the German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the biological durability of inhaled tremolite fibers is significant: their clearance half-life from human tissues exceeds 20 years. Based on epidemiological models by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), the latency period between initial inhalation and the clinical onset of illnesses ranges from 30 to 45 years. While official Austrian public safety thresholds permit a maximum concentration of 1,000 fibers/m³, measurement results documented during official investigations in Szombathely show a minimum load of 35,000 fibers/m³, and the measured maximum load reached 292,000 fibers/m³.
To ensure precise identification, the professor emphasizes that there is an internationally accepted measurement protocol for verifying rock composition:
“The presence of asbestos in a rock sample can be most reliably verified by X-ray diffractometry testing of the powder prepared from the sample. Since national accredited laboratories in the European Union work according to the same standard, their results are mutually recognized by member states, so the results of such tests can carry significant evidentiary weight in legal and official proceedings.”
Regarding emerging and applicable remediation technologies, the chair of the MTA committee provides a firm engineering and hydrological answer for future tasks:
“In the short term, the goal is to minimize dust emission and abrasion. In the long term, the surface exposure of the crushed stone must be prevented. If it can be guaranteed that a covering asphalt layer completely isolates the rock from traffic, capping may be sufficient. It is important to know that, since these rocks are simple magnesium and calcium silicates, no harmful substances can leach into the groundwater, so they do not cause hydrological problems underground. However, due to future utility excavations, which may occur even decades later, it is essential that these road sections are accurately recorded on official utility maps.”
The question remains as to how the specificities of previous regulatory frameworks and inspection protocols allowed the use of these materials on both sides of the border. The final legal and regulatory answer will be provided by the results of ongoing official proceedings, long-term remediation strategies, and the anticipated fine-tuning of the European REACH regulation.
Editorial Note
This article is based on publicly available official documents, publicly available laboratory reports, Greenpeace Austria publications, municipal records, publicly available scientific sources, and a written expert statement provided by Prof. Dr. Tivadar M. Tóth. It reflects the information available at the time of publication. Ongoing official proceedings and any future judicial or regulatory decisions may provide additional information, and this article may be updated accordingly.
The publication of this article should not be interpreted as a legal determination of liability by any authority or court.
By Anett Schwarz
Sources
• Written expert statement by Prof. Dr. Tivadar M. Tóth, University of Szeged (SZTE), President of the Hungarian Geological Society, Chair of the Scientific Committee on Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Petrology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (written correspondence with the editorial office).
• Greenpeace Austria – Public reports, laboratory documentation, investigative publications and interactive mapping project relating to serpentinite aggregate and naturally occurring asbestos.
• Biolab Umweltanalysen GmbH (Braunschweig, Germany) – Laboratory analyses commissioned by Greenpeace Austria.
source: ORF (Österreichischer Rundfunk)
• Publicly available Austrian regulatory and municipal documents.
• Publicly available Hungarian municipal decisions and official investigation documents.
• Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).
• German Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA).
• French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM).
image: Y. Rosen, MD / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Featured Image: Jpatokal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Medical Illustration: wikimedia Commons
