Awareness of Asbestos-Related Dangers Is Low Among Both the General Public and Municipal Representatives – Public Defender

The Public Defender of Georgia has submitted a proposal to the Environmental Information and Education Centre (a Legal Entity of Public Law) regarding the need to raise public awareness about the dangers posed by asbestos. This information was released by the Office of the Public Defender.

According to the Office, on April 29, 2026, the Public Defender of Georgia published a special report titled "Asbestos-Related Dangers in Georgia – Occupational Safety, Health Protection, and the Right to a Healthy Environment."

As stated in the released information, the report—among other challenges—highlights that public awareness regarding the dangers of asbestos is low. Studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) unequivocally confirm that exposure to asbestos causes serious and often fatal diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Furthermore, no state program has been implemented in Georgia for the large-scale dismantling or replacement of asbestos-cement materials (commonly known as "shifer"). "Consequently, a significant portion of residential, public, and industrial structures may still contain this hazardous material to this day," states the released information.

According to the Office of the Public Defender, between June and September 2026, 102 awareness-raising meetings were held across 48 municipalities with local residents and representatives of municipal authorities.

"The meetings revealed that awareness regarding the dangers of asbestos is low among both the general population and municipal representatives.

Participants consistently raised questions for which no official, publicly available information exists. Specifically, they inquired about:

How an area can be safely cleared of broken asbestos-cement roofing (shifer);

What steps should be taken if asbestos-containing material is discovered in a school, kindergarten, or other public building;

Who a person should contact if a neighbor is improperly dismantling an asbestos-containing roof;

Whether there is a defined service life for asbestos-containing materials (e.g., so-called 'shifer')." ...as well as measures to prevent the release of asbestos into the air (e.g., methods for handling asbestos-containing materials);

and the safe procedures for the dismantling/disposal of asbestos-containing materials, in accordance with international standards.

"In light of the above, the Public Defender has submitted a proposal to the Director of the Environmental Information and Education Centre (a Legal Entity of Public Law) to plan and implement—within the scope of their capacity—various initiatives aimed at raising public awareness regarding pressing issues related to the dangers of asbestos," states the released information.