Azores map more than 3,000 buildings containing asbestos materials

The Azores Asbestos Platform inventory lists 3,149 buildings in which at least one asbestos-containing material has been identified. Private properties account for most of the records: 2,812 buildings, or 89.30% of the total.

The remaining entries include 200 regional government buildings, 99 municipal properties, 26 state-owned buildings and 12 owned by associations. The figures were provided by the Regional Government in response to a parliamentary request concerning the survey and removal of these materials from public buildings.

Seven facilities are classified as requiring mandatory removal. They include three schools — in Ribeira Grande, Biscoitos and Angra do Heroísmo — and four health facilities: the Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo in Ponta Delgada, plus health centres in Vila do Porto, Nordeste and Vila Franca do Campo.

Being included in the inventory does not, on its own, mean that a building presents a public-health risk. The assessment depends on the type and condition of the material and on the potential release of fibres, which can increase when materials deteriorate or are handled improperly.

São Jorge and Faial account for almost half of all listed buildings, with 878 and 689 records respectively. Between 2021 and 2025, the Regional Labour Inspectorate approved 170 asbestos-removal operations covering 85,011 square metres, while no single timetable has been set for eliminating all remaining materials.