An Adriatic beach in Croatia that is popular with families is said to be contaminated with asbestos. A citizens' initiative has been calling for fencing for a long time - politicians are standing in the way.
Solina – The Adriatic beach tried with asbestos. A major problem in the picturesque town of Vranjic is said to have been ignored for years, as a citizens' initiative denounces. A public beach is contaminated with asbestos. The substance poses a major health risk. And the region is popular, the district of Solina is so beautiful, it is nicknamed “Little Venice”.
Beach in Solina contaminated with asbestos – citizens' initiative calls for action
Near the beach, in the popular holiday region around the city of Split, there is said to have been an asbestos dump for many years, as the portal
morski.hr
reports. The asbestos was created within a cement factory and was apparently discharged into the sea. A citizens' initiative is now taking action against the dangerous stretch of beach. To begin with, the affected beach should at least be fenced off. There are also calls for the section to be designated as an asbestos dump.
As Marijana Grubić from the citizens' initiative denounces, the solution to the problem should be delayed by officials for more than 15 years. Grubić has already called several times for the section of beach to be closed off because families spend their holidays there. The city's last two responses to this were "ridiculous and humiliating," she says.
Asbestos on the Adriatic beach: Mayor contradicts – environmental protection bond demonstrated contamination
Officially, fencing of the beach is not necessary because the water quality is adequate. The mayor of Solina, Dalibor Ninčević, apparently denied any responsibility. The environmental protection bond is responsible for such a measure. After two renovations in 2007 and 2011, no measures were necessary on the Kosica beach in Solina because, according to Ninčević, investigations no longer detected asbestos on the beach.
The Environmental Protection Bonds, however, stated that during investigations in 2019, a large area was contaminated with asbestos. There was asbestos-containing building rubble on 4.84 hectares on the sea side and around 1.46 hectares on land. However, as reported, it would have taken a long time to obtain the necessary permits to remove the building rubble. Nevertheless: The renovation of the beach in Solina should supposedly take place soon.
Beach heavily polluted – asbestos can cause serious lung damage
Asbestos can be extremely dangerous for people because the substance is carcinogenic, as the Federal Environment Agency in Germany writes. If people come into contact with asbestos, they should consult a family doctor. In the worst case, there is a risk of lung disease, but usually only after several years of inhalation. This is at least true if asbestos is detected in buildings. The supposedly high concentrations on the beach in Solina should therefore be taken extremely seriously. In the past, asbestos was used to build houses because the material was said to provide particularly good insulation. It was not until 1993 that its production and use was banned in Germany. (
approx
.)