Asbestos contamination in Vas County

Authorities in Vas County, Hungary, are investigating environmental crimes involving asbestos contamination. The pollutants are believed to have originated from mines in the Austrian state of Burgenland and were used in road construction materials. Official measurements have confirmed that asbestos levels in the air have exceeded safety limits.

As the investigation continues, regulatory inspections have identified violations during roadwork in Szombathely, where workers were fined for failing to use proper respiratory protection or closed clothing. Reports indicate that approximately 216,451 tons of asbestos-contaminated crushed stone are located across 720 sites in Vas County.

Disposal remains a significant challenge. Currently, only one facility in Harasztifalu is capable of accepting the material, but its remaining capacity is estimated to be sufficient for only about 120,000 tons. While a three-billion forint remediation fund was announced in July, local leaders have expressed frustration regarding the pace of progress.

Recent laboratory reports have revealed extremely high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air, particularly in Kőszeg, where a peak concentration of 76,394 fibers per cubic meter was recorded—more than 76 times the health reference value of 1,000 fibers per cubic meter. The contaminated aggregate, believed to originate from the Steinbrücken region in Burgenland, Austria, has been used in road surfaces, parking lots, and near public institutions, including schools, kindergartens, and playgrounds.

In response, local authorities have implemented emergency measures, such as traffic restrictions in Kőszeg and applying bitumen emulsion coatings to certain road sections in Szombathely. Residents are advised to avoid contaminated areas during dry or windy weather and are warned against attempting to collect or break up suspicious stones privately.