Asbestos sheets on the neighboring property

Întrebare

Hello,
I have a question: we have a very large yard, but at one spot, a neighbor has placed broken asbestos sheets right next to our fence—maybe a meter away. His chickens are now walking all over them.

I am really unsure about the level of risk this poses specifically for me, given that I have cystic fibrosis (female, early 30s, good lung function).
The good thing is that we hardly ever spend time in that particular area. Our children's playground is about 10 meters away, on the opposite side of the property.
How dangerous is this for our health—or specifically for mine?

Please give me your assessment, assuming these really are asbestos sheets.

Raspuns

Good day,
In theory, damaged asbestos panels can release individual asbestos fibers from their broken edges. However, the likelihood of you being exposed to an elevated concentration of asbestos fibers (asbestos fibers are always present in the ambient air) is very low.
It would require daily contact lasting several hours in the immediate vicinity of the asbestos panels—while they are being actively worked on (cut, broken, etc.) over a prolonged period (likely more than a year)—to create any increased risk of cancer.
Given your situation, such a scenario is not to be expected at all, as the panels are not being moved and the chickens will release—if anything—only a few fibers. Furthermore, the concentration is significantly diluted by the distance to your garden or playground; consequently, it is almost certain that no elevated concentration of asbestos fibers would be detectable in the ambient air, for instance, around the playground.
Therefore, regardless of your lung condition, I consider the health risk posed by these panels to be extremely low—and thus negligible.

Best regards from Munich,
Rainald Fischer

29.06.2026