TY - JOUR
T1 - Monitoring outdoor concentrations of airborne asbestos in urban and residential areas in the four major cities of Denmark
T2 - Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus and Aalborg
AU - Sørensen, Marcus Kjær
AU - Thomsen, Jane Frølund
AU - Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard
AU - Ervik, Torunn Kringlen
AU - Møller, Peter
AU - Kolarik, Barbara Dorota
AU - Deen, Laura
AU - Khoury, Georges
AU - Petersen, Jonathan Aavang
AU - Meyer, Harald William
AU - Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig
AU - Begtrup, Luise Mølenberg
AU - Flachs, Esben Meulengracht
AU - Wils, Regitze Sølling
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Authors
PY - 2026/2/15
Y1 - 2026/2/15
N2 - Background and aim: In Denmark, 1.3 million buildings are currently registered as having asbestos-containing roofing. Studies have demonstrated that natural weathering of asbestos-containing materials can lead to the presence of airborne asbestos in the environment. The objective of this study was to measure the outdoor concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers in urban and residential areas of Denmark. Methods: We collected 192 outdoor air samples during June to September 2024 and March to May 2025 across four major cities: Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus, and Aalborg. In each city, we conducted measurements at four sites in urban and residential areas, respectively. Additionally, we collected samples at four sites within each of two natural areas and four sites within each of two residential neighborhoods consisting exclusively of houses with asbestos-containing roofs. All samples were analyzed using phase-contrast optical microscopy (PCM) and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). Results: Asbestos-like fibers were detected in 108 (58 %) samples analyzed by PCM; however, the concentrations exceeded the limit of detection (LOD) of 300 f/m3 in only nine samples. The majority of these samples were collected in urban areas with concentration ranging 300–500 f/m3. Asbestos fibers were detected in 10 (5 %) samples analyzed by SEM-EDX; however, none exceeded the LOD of 100–160 f/m3. Conclusion: Asbestos fibers were detectable in a few samples from the urban and residential areas of Denmark. Concentrations were lower than the LOD, indicating a low asbestos exposure, also in areas with a high prevalence of buildings with asbestos-containing roofs.
AB - Background and aim: In Denmark, 1.3 million buildings are currently registered as having asbestos-containing roofing. Studies have demonstrated that natural weathering of asbestos-containing materials can lead to the presence of airborne asbestos in the environment. The objective of this study was to measure the outdoor concentrations of airborne asbestos fibers in urban and residential areas of Denmark. Methods: We collected 192 outdoor air samples during June to September 2024 and March to May 2025 across four major cities: Copenhagen, Odense, Aarhus, and Aalborg. In each city, we conducted measurements at four sites in urban and residential areas, respectively. Additionally, we collected samples at four sites within each of two natural areas and four sites within each of two residential neighborhoods consisting exclusively of houses with asbestos-containing roofs. All samples were analyzed using phase-contrast optical microscopy (PCM) and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). Results: Asbestos-like fibers were detected in 108 (58 %) samples analyzed by PCM; however, the concentrations exceeded the limit of detection (LOD) of 300 f/m3 in only nine samples. The majority of these samples were collected in urban areas with concentration ranging 300–500 f/m3. Asbestos fibers were detected in 10 (5 %) samples analyzed by SEM-EDX; however, none exceeded the LOD of 100–160 f/m3. Conclusion: Asbestos fibers were detectable in a few samples from the urban and residential areas of Denmark. Concentrations were lower than the LOD, indicating a low asbestos exposure, also in areas with a high prevalence of buildings with asbestos-containing roofs.
KW - Airborne asbestos
KW - Asbestos exposure
KW - Asbestos-cement roof
KW - Asbestos-containing materials
KW - Environmental exposure
KW - Non-occupational exposure
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105024754228
U2 - 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123546
DO - 10.1016/j.envres.2025.123546
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 41390066
AN - SCOPUS:105024754228
SN - 0013-9351
VL - 291
JO - Environmental Research
JF - Environmental Research
M1 - 123546
ER -