Asbestos in the Palace of Culture and Science. Renovation of the Congress Hall revealed an uncomfortable truth

Councillor Barbara Socha asks in her interpellation whether the authorities of the capital city of Warsaw had knowledge of the presence of asbestos in the Congress Hall of the Palace of Culture and Science before the renovation work began. If the answer is "no", then another question arises: why? Wasn't a detailed analysis of the technical condition of the building, including in terms of hazardous materials, carried out before such a costly and long-term investment?

PKiN: A veil of silence around an invisible threat?

The scale of the problem and its location is another pressing issue. Councilwoman Socha asks the Warsaw City Hall how much asbestos was discovered during the renovation of the Congress Hall and where exactly it was located.

In her letter to the city president, the councilor expects clarification as to whether, when and through what information channels the residents of Warsaw were informed about the detection of asbestos in the Congress Hall.

If such important information regarding a potential threat to public health was not clearly and comprehensively communicated to the public, it is a serious failure.

Silence on such matters, even if unintentional, can be seen as ignoring the basic rights of citizens to full information about threats in their environment. After all, the Palace of Culture and Science is visited daily by thousands of residents and visitors.

The problem of the Congress Hall may be just the tip of the iceberg. Councillor Barbara Socha rightly asks whether the Warsaw City Hall is able to definitively determine whether asbestos is present in the entire Palace of Culture and Science. The councillor also asked about documents and expert opinions that can reliably answer this question. The city authorities should have full documentation and regularly conduct tests for the presence of harmful substances. The lack of such documentation makes it difficult to manage the palace, and the health of residents is relegated to the background in such a situation.

PKiN: Action Plan

The Palace of Culture and Science, regardless of the controversies associated with it, is an integral part of Warsaw, a place that should be safe. The city authorities, headed by Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, are obliged to immediately and comprehensively answer all questions posed, presenting a specific action plan. One that will not only allow for the safe removal of asbestos from the Palace of Culture and Science, but above all ensure the safety of Warsaw residents.