The Topicality of Asbestos from the Perspective of the Administrative Law

Nowadays, people place increasing emphasis on the quality of life. This is why the environment in which we live and work must be safe and comply with legal requirements to ensure that life is not endangered. There is public concern that asbestos—a material found in buildings built up many years ago—is still present in the walls of those buildings, making it dangerous during renovations or even demolitions. Asbestos is one of the dangerous substances from a double perspective: it not only affects the environment but also poses a major risk to human health. International studies show that asbestos exposure can cause serious diseases such as cancer and even death. Given this background, the aim of this paper is to analyze the legal regime of asbestos from an interdisciplinary perspective, starting from administrative law, in order to know how the legislator relates to this substance. The subject is highly relevant for the scientific community as well as for the general public and has practical applicability, as it provides crucial information to raise awareness of the dangers posed by asbestos. The research methodology of the paper proposes a structure consisting of several parts: Part I analyzes the national regulatory framework on asbestos; Part II presents the international normative acts on the protection of workers against the risks related to asbestos exposure at work; and Part III brings to the forefront several case studies settled by the European Court of Human Rights, highlighting the danger asbestos poses to human health.