Erbach Castle: Lead contamination is harmless – visits are now possible again!

Erbach Castle: Lead contamination is harmless – visits are now possible again!

The closure of Erbach Castle on August 29th caused a stir. The reason for the temporary exclusion of visitors is low levels of lead pollution, which were determined through a thorough examination of building materials. However, according to odw-journal.de, a current report shows that the pollutants discovered do not pose a health risk to visitors.

The heavy metal concentrations examined in the dust were therefore significantly below the reference values ​​for adults, children and museum staff. The report also recommends intensive basic cleaning of the affected museum rooms in order to continue to guarantee harmless values. It is assumed that the release of lead dust from preliminary investigations and construction work in the wall and floor areas led to this contamination. Lead is often found in many historic buildings and is bound to the structure of the building, which is not considered a problem in this case.

Visitor questions and admission refunds

Guests who have already purchased tickets to visit the castle will be offered a refund or the option to rebook. If you have any further questions, those affected can contact Schloss-erbach@schloesser-hessen.com directly by email. In view of the continuous efforts to reduce pollutant emissions in Germany, comprehensive measures have been taken in recent decades that have led to a significant reduction in heavy metal emissions.

A look at the emissions development since 1990 shows, according to umweltbundesamt.de, that emissions of cadmium, lead and mercury have decreased significantly. In most cases, reductions are between 60 and 90%. The most drastic declines occurred primarily in the early 1990s, due to effective dust and sulfur dioxide reduction measures.

The influence of the energy industry

The energy industry plays a crucial role in this, particularly with regard to pollutant emissions. A large proportion of pollutant emissions come from the use of fuels in the energy sector. The Aarhus Protocol on Heavy Metals, in force since 2003 and revised in 2012, advocates for the further reduction of heavy metal emissions and promotes the use of best available techniques (BAT).

Despite the reduced emissions, heavy metals in the air remain an important issue. Wear from brakes and tires in the transport sector is also a significant source of lead and zinc emissions. Against this background, the closure of Erbach Castle is a further step towards ensuring the health of visitors and raising awareness of the issues of air quality and environmental protection.