In a small Croatian town near Split, an idyllic-looking beach is endangering the health of bathers. However, many people don’t know that.
Croatia is a very popular holiday destination – it is easy to reach, comparatively cheap and offers impressive cities and beautiful beaches. Particularly popular places for holidays on the Adriatic include Dubrovnik, Zadar, Split and the island of Hvar.
But on a beach near Split the idyll is only superficial. The tranquil town of Seget Vranjica is located on a small peninsula, around half an hour’s drive from Split. The city beach “Plaza Vranjica” is often described as a “dream beach” – although swimming there can be harmful to your health.
Dream beach was an asbestos dump
The “dream beach” used to be an asbestos dump, as the Croatian news portal “morski.hr” reports. According to the article, a local citizens’ initiative has been campaigning to fence off the beach and ban access since 2010. Instead, people are invited to swim there, which “literally poisons” them, according to the initiative.
Since there are currently no warning signs or instructions, many people continue to go swimming there – without knowing what danger lies beneath the beach. This is also shown by the reviews of the beach, for example on Google, where it gets a rating of 4.4 stars. Visitors describe it as a “very beautiful beach” with “clean water.”
Even though more sand was piled up last year, the danger from asbestos has not been averted. However, further renovation measures are planned, as “morski.hr” writes.
What is asbestos and why is it dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has long been used in various industries – most notably the construction industry – due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties. The tiny fibers that make up asbestos can easily be inhaled and lodge in the lungs. Long-term exposure to asbestos can cause serious health problems, including asbestosis (a scarring lung disease) and lung cancer.
Due to its proven health risks, the use of asbestos has declined or even been banned completely in many countries. However, there are still many older buildings and structures that may contain asbestos.
