Researchers monitor air quality with dog cages in Danish cities

In recent months, small dog cages equipped with measurement devices have been spotted anchored to lamp posts in various Danish cities. Researchers are using these setups to monitor air quality and determine the concentration of asbestos fibers, especially pertaining to concerns over old asbestos roofs that could pose environmental risks.

Louise Hartmann, a homeowner who recently removed an asbestos roof, expressed her unease about whether the removal process was handled correctly, highlighting the lack of available data on airborne asbestos levels. Regitze Sølling Wils, a researcher from Bispebjerg Hospital, noted that the ongoing study might reveal either low levels of asbestos or specific areas with higher concentrations. The results will provide a benchmark for assessing potential asbestos contamination in the area.

Nearly 100 air samples have been collected, along with surface samples using adhesive tape, and a report detailing the findings is anticipated next fall. Hartmann, who lives in Aalborg’s Mølholm neighborhood, is particularly concerned for her two children and is keen to learn if asbestos is present in the air.

Asbestos roofs, widely installed before the substance was banned 35 years ago for its associated health risks, are now aging and deteriorating, raising alarm. Estimates suggest that there are hundreds of thousands, possibly around a million, buildings in Denmark still sporting asbestos roofs.

As health experts emphasize the need for urgent action, including replacing these roofs with safer materials, they continue to observe increasing cases of lung cancer linked to asbestos exposure. While the use of asbestos has decreased over the years, the consequences of past exposure persist, with significant mortality rates related to asbestos-related diseases.