Introduction
Poland has no asbestos deposits and in the past asbestos used to be imported, mostly from the former Soviet Union. A large-scale commercial application of asbestos in the construction industry began in the 1960s, when four big asbestos-cement plants started operating. Chrysotile asbestos was the most commonly used raw material, but until the mid 1980s, crocidolite and small amounts of amosite were also used, to manufacture pressure pipes. In the manufacture of asbestos-cement products, the total consumption of asbestos since 1960’s to 1993 is estimated to be about 1.4 million tonnes; including about 8,500 tonnes of amosite and about 86,000 tonnes of crocidolite. In the period of 1959–1984, about 72%  (ca. 60,000 tonnes) of the total volume of crocidolite asbestos used to produce construction materials in Poland was consumed by a single plant manufacturing large-diameter pressure pipes. Since 1985, crocidolite asbestos is no longer used in Poland.

According to the parliamentary Act of 1997, the import manufacture and sale of asbestos and asbestos contained materials is prohibited (1). Thus, the assessment of exposure to asbestos dust and the monitoring of health conditions of workers at asbestos-processing plants have become irrelevant. However, the delayed health effects attributable to previous occupational exposure remain the cause for concern for public health. Likewise, the environmental pollution from asbestos containing materials and from waste landfills in the vicinity of asbestos-processing plants, where high levels of asbestos fibre concentration in ambient air have been recorded, will continue to be a serious problem as well.

Presently, two projects aimed at minimising the adverse effects of asbestos on population health and the environment are underway. One of them is the project on "Elimination of asbestos and asbestos contained products used in Poland" covering the workers contracted to perform demolition work and install protective coverage at asbestos waste landfills. This will be the exposed group who need prophylactic health care. The other is a programme of prophylactic examinations of former asbestos workers and is referred to as the Amiantus Project.


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