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Creating a Safe Environment for Citizens: Busan Metropolitan City Confirms Safety of Areas with Potential Asbestos Exposure

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Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment (hereinafter referred to as the Institute) conducts annual surveys of airborne asbestos, focusing on areas with potential exposure, to prevent health damage to citizens caused by asbestos.

Asbestos is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), and prolonged inhalation may cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and malignant mesothelioma. Although it was widely used as a construction material in the past, its use is now strictly restricted.
In some residential areas in Korea, aging slate roofs still remain, requiring continuous monitoring for potential airborne asbestos exposure. Accordingly, under Article 25 of the Asbestos Safety Management Act, the Institute has been identifying areas with potential health risks from asbestos exposure and conducting regular surveys of airborne asbestos since 2008.

According to the results of the Institute’s 2025 survey on airborne asbestos in areas with potential exposure, no asbestos was detected at all 16 survey sites.

The survey covered a total of 16 sites, including four locations near ship repair yards and twelve locations in residential areas with aging slate roofs. Airborne asbestos surveys were conducted twice a year, once in the first half and once in the second half of the year. The analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy after air sampling in accordance with the standard methods for air pollution testing. Scanning electron microscopy is a method that precisely identifies asbestos through high-magnification imaging and analysis of chemical composition.

This year, the number of survey sites will be expanded to a total of 17 by adding one additional location to the existing sites.

Lee Yong-ju, Director of the Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health & Environment, stated, “We will continue to make every effort to create an environment where citizens can live with peace of mind through ongoing monitoring of areas with potential asbestos exposure.”