Asbestos Concerns Expand in Austria, Prompting Investigations and Closures
Concerns over asbestos contamination are escalating across several regions of Austria, with new findings reported in Burgenland and Styria, prompting investigations, closures and calls for a nationwide regulatory response. The discoveries, initially flagged by environmental organization Greenpeace, have led to the closure of a children’s playground and a rest area, and triggered a review of road maintenance procedures.
Greenpeace reported on Friday that asbestos was detected in samples taken from locations in Northern Burgenland and Eastern Styria. Specifically, samples from Winden and Breitenbrunn, as well as Hartberg and Neudau, showed asbestos content exceeding 50 percent in building materials. The findings affect two ÖBB train stations in Winden and Breitenbrunn, where gravel on the platforms is being removed as a precautionary measure. In Eastern Styria, asbestos was found near business premises in Hartberg and on the main square in Neudau.
“In Eastern Styria, there are partly pure asbestos stones in the verge next to the sidewalk and grit directly on the main square. People walk over it every day – and may then carry the fibers on their shoes into their cars and homes,” said Herwig Schuster, an environmental chemist with Greenpeace, highlighting the potential for widespread exposure.
The situation extends beyond Burgenland, and Styria. A batch of road grit delivered from a Burgenland quarry to the Aspang road maintenance facility in Lower Austria was suspected of asbestos contamination on January 29, 2026. The material has been isolated to prevent its use on public roads while a thorough investigation is underway. Authorities are reviewing records to determine if the potentially contaminated grit was distributed or applied to regional roads, and to assess any potential risk to road users and maintenance staff.
Further compounding the concerns, Greenpeace also identified asbestos contamination at a McDonald’s playground in Oberpullendorf, an Asfinag rest area in Mogersdorf on the S7 highway, the Steinberg-Dörfl business park, and a parking lot in Bozsok, Hungary. McDonald’s is removing the contaminated gravel from the playground, and Asfinag has temporarily closed the rest area as a precautionary measure. Asfinag officials emphasized that the closure is a preventative step, focusing on gravel areas away from the roadway.
The discoveries have prompted calls for more comprehensive action. A task force in Burgenland is demanding a nationwide asbestos regulation, while Greenpeace is urging the Burgenland and Styrian state governments to implement an “Action Plan Against Asbestos Hazards.” Greenpeace specifically calls for the immediate removal of asbestos-containing rock material, particularly loose chunks and grit, from sensitive areas.
While the recent findings raise alarm, testing of two Styrian quarries – Preg and Lobming – revealed significantly lower asbestos content, less than 0.1 percent, falling below the threshold for hazardous waste classification. However, Greenpeace is still calling for comprehensive inspections of all quarries, with public release of the results and implementation of protective measures if necessary.
The Lower Austrian road service confirmed that all materials supplied for road grit undergo initial inspection and possess CE certification to verify safety standards. Despite these precautions, the incident has triggered a comprehensive review of procurement and quality control procedures to prevent future contamination risks. Authorities have pledged transparency and will keep the public informed as testing and assessments progress.
