News Archive

The timely article cited below reviewed findings recently published by Australian and UK scientists about medical research regarding the long-term health effects of asbestos exposures. A study by a team at Australia’s Curtin University, which was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, showed that “current lung cancer screening efforts often overlook people exposed to asbestos. This gap puts many at risk of late diagnoses and poorer outcomes.” New lung cancer data substantiated claims that the number of asbestos-related lung cancer deaths had been “greatly” underestimated in the UK. See: International research surge highlights asbestos health crisis.

MoD Guilty!

Jun 12, 2026

A court in Lecce awarded ~€700,000 (US$810,000) compensation to the children of a member of the Italian Navy who died in 2019 from pleural mesothelioma due to workplace asbestos exposures. The deceased had worked as a toolmaker at La Spezia, one of Italy’s most historic and important naval bases. The compensation was paid by the Ministry of Defense. See: Militare morto a causa dell’amianto, maxi risarcimento dal ministero della Difesa [Soldier killed by asbestos, huge compensation from the Ministry of Defense].

Another Asbestos Recall!

Jun 12, 2026

On June 8, 2026, the UK’s office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a recall for KTL Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit. According to the OPSS: “The product presents a risk to health as the sand inside the kit may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos.” The Sand Art Kit was exported from China and was sold in the UK under the brand name: KTL (formerly Kandy Toys). Other items marketed under this brand name were previously recalled. See: Product Recall: KTL Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit (2606-0116).

Basque Asbestos Claim

Jun 12, 2026

A claim for €378,452 (US$437,600) in damages against multiple defendants was lodged on June 8, 2026 with the Court of Donostia/San Sebastián in the Basque Country. The lawsuit alleged that the defendant companies – Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) [Construction & Other Railway Services], Azpeitia Hermanos, Montajes Nadur, Iberica de frio, Plasticos ABC Spain, Onena bolsas de papel, and Volkswagen Navarra had failed “to comply with safety regulations regarding asbestos…” As a result of these failures, Honorio B. died from the signature cancer associated with asbestos exposure: pleural mesothelioma. See: CAF and other companies sued for 378,452 euros over former employee's asbestos-related death.

Support for Asbestos Eradication

Jun 12, 2026

On June 3, 2026, the Croatian city of Split published a public invitation to the owners of buildings in Split to apply for subsidies for the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing roofing material.The public call is open for 60 days from June 3, 2026. This initiative was taken by the municipality “to protect human health and the environment from asbestos.”
See: Split co-finances the removal and disposal of asbestos roof coverings, here's how to apply.

Victim’s Victory in Milan

Jun 12, 2026

On June 4, 2026, the Court of Milan condemned the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for failing to protect deceased serviceman M.R. from deadly workplace exposures to asbestos. As a result of the MoD’s negligence, M.R. died in 2017 from pleural mesothelioma. Finding that a case for wrongful death brought by his daughter had been proved, the MoD was ordered to pay compensation of €400,000 (US$462,000). See: Ex militare ucciso dall’amianto: il Tribunale di Milano condanna la Difesa, oltre 400mila euro alla figlia [Former soldier killed by asbestos: Milan Court orders Defense to pay over 400 thousand euros to his daughter].

Recalled Asbestos Contaminated Toys

Jun 10, 2026

The link cited below takes you to a Slovenian Government website which details Dangerous and non-compliant products including food and non-food products being sold from national outlets. It lists several products recalled this year by the EU Safety Gate scheme due to asbestos contamination. The latest recalls mentioned were dated the end of May 2026 and were for Kiddo world Mega Construction Site Toy: Sensory Set with Kinetic Sand and Orb Funkee Monkee Hairdo Stretchy Sand Toy. The EU notifications are available from this website in the Slovenian language. See: Nevarni in neskladni izdelki [Dangerous and non-compliant products].

The Polluter Should Pay!

Jun 10, 2026

Even though Austrian authorities knew that stone and gravel from 4 Burgenland quarries were contaminated with asbestos, they allowed millions of tons to be sold for use in public areas, roads, schools and hospitals in Hungary. “It is clear,” said a spokesman for Greenpeace Austria “that the authorities had been aware of asbestos contamination for decades.” Campaigners argue that Austria has a duty to take back its toxic exports. See: Greenpeace Austria: “Lo Stato austriaco riprenda la ghiaia con amianto inviata in Ungheria” [Greenpeace Austria: “Austrian state should take back asbestos-based gravel sent to Hungary”].

Two More Asbestos Recalls!

Jun 10, 2026

In the June 1, 2026 article cited below, it was reported that despite the fact that the UK’s Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) had recalled Montessori sand art trays in March, 2026 because of asbestos contamination, they were still being sold two months later by retailers on Amazon Marketplace and the TikTok Shop. It was also noted that researchers from the Which Consumer organization had found tremolite asbestos in the GL Style Sand Bottle Art Heart or Stars set sold at Asda supermarkets. See: Two more children’s sand kits pulled from shelves over asbestos content.

Asbestos Crime & Punishment

Jun 10, 2026

A joint effort by local police and specialized personnel from the Macerata Labor Inspectorate Unit in Tolentino, central Italy uncovered multiple asbestos infringements at a construction site. The subsequent prosecution resulted in total fines and penalties to the company and its personnel of €28,000+ (US$32,550). According to the authorities, more asbestos audits will be conducted on construction sites “to prevent accidents in the workplace and counteract the dangers associated with exposure to harmful substances such as asbestos, to protect the safety of workers and public health.” See: Amianto e sicurezza a rischio. Multe e stop ai lavori nel cantiere [Asbestos and safety at risk. Fines and work stoppage at construction site].

Two More Toxic Toys Recalled!

Jun 10, 2026

On May 29, 2026, the French authorities issued recalls for two products. The first one recalled was notice A2601001 – JEU DE LANCER DE SACS [A2601001 – SACK TOSS GAME] which was found to contain asbestos in the sand used to fill the bags. It was sold throughout France from February 25, 2025 until February 27, 2026. The other recalled item was A2502373 – SABLIER DECO [A2502373 – DECORATIVE HOURGLASS] which also contained asbestos. It was sold throughout the country from August 7, 2025 until February 27, 2026. See: French Government Rappel [Recall] Conso Website.

Asbestos in Schools

Jun 10, 2026

Hazardous conditions at Randfontein Secondary School and Toekomsrus Primary School in the Gauteng province of South Africa were highlighted last week by provincial politicians who said that the presence of deteriorating asbestos-containing material in schools posed serious health risks to hundreds of school users. “It is outrageous,” said Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature Sergio Isa Dos Santos on June 1 “that government continues to drag its feet on eradicating asbestos schools despite the well-documented health dangers associated with asbestos exposure.” See: Asbestos Schools Still Endanger Hundreds of West Rand Learners Despite Government Promises.

Asbestos Cosmetics Dossier

Jun 8, 2026

The callous reply from the Shiseido company to a request for information pertinent to the asbestos death in 2024 of a cosmetics saleswoman was reported in the article cited below. According to the deceased’s employer: “there is no way to verify the records of raw materials at that time.” In December 2025, the Sendai Labor Standards Inspection Office recognized the death as work-related and was due to the presence of asbestos in the cosmetics and baby powder she handled. See: アスベスト特有のガンで元化粧品販売員の女性が死亡元勤務先の資生堂「当時の原料の記録を確認する方法がない」と回答 [Former Cosmetics Saleswoman Dies from Asbestos-Specific Cancer; Former Employer Shiseido Responds: ‘There Is No Way to Check Records of Raw Materials at the Time’].

Lung Cancer Screening: Yes or No?

Jun 8, 2026

An academic article by Australian lung cancer researchers, published on the website of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal in May 2025, looked at the effectiveness of lung cancer screening (LCS) for an asbestos-exposed population. The researchers concluded that in this cohort of individuals “current LCS eligibility criteria and risk models mostly underestimate the risk of lung cancer, reflecting the need for improved risk prediction models that adequately account for asbestos exposure.” See: Lung cancer risk prediction models and asbestos exposure: a validation study on the Western Australia Asbestos Review Program.

Data Bombshell!

Jun 8, 2026

According to new research, detailed in the June 1, 2026 Daily Mail article referenced below, UK authorities have been grossly underestimating the country’s asbestos-related mortality for decades. Whereas current data estimates that there are 5,000+ UK asbestos deaths a year, new research suggests that a more accurate figure would be 20,000. The huge discrepancy is because the number of deaths ascribed to asbestos-related lung cancer is presently estimated at 2,300 annually whereas the new research indicates this figure could be ~20,000/year. See [Subscription site]: Britain's Fresh Asbestos Nightmare.

Asbestos Alert over Toxic Toys

Jun 8, 2026

The June 3, 2026 article cited below, which appeared on a Vietnamese news portal, reported discoveries made by the Which Consumer Organization (Which?) UK of asbestos contamination of consumer products sold for children. Tests undertaken by Which? of a Montessori sand art toy found tremolite asbestos, a substance banned in the UK. Although this product had been recalled by the Government in March, the report said that it could still be purchased from multiple online retailers two months later. See: Đồ chơi nhiễm amiăng và trách nhiệm của sàn thương mại điện tử [Asbestos-contaminated toys and the responsibility of e-commerce platforms].

Who Pays the Cost of Asbestos Use?

Jun 8, 2026

An article by Dr. Karen Lee Morrissette, from the Center for Asbestos Related Disease in Libby Montana, which was uploaded on June 4th to the Open Access Government website, reviewed the evolving knowledge about the health consequences of human exposures to asbestos. The author highlighted the worldwide struggle faced by injured workers to hold negligent corporations to account for their injuries and the use by defendants of legal and financial resources to avoid paying asbestos compensation. Dr. Morrissette concluded: “With due respect to industry and commerce, perhaps the Precautionary Principle should be applied to asbestos, whereby protection of human health automatically prevails over industry profit.” See: Legal action on asbestos-related disease.

Mesothelioma Treatment: Update

Jun 8, 2026

The first randomised UK clinical trial – HIT-MESO trial – is testing the effectiveness of using “highly targeted proton beam therapy…(to) improve survival and quality of life in selected patients with the condition…” The research is being carried out by University College London and University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will treat 148 patients from 23 NHS centers in England and Wales. According to HIT-MESO chief investigator Dr Crispin Hiley: “Proton beam therapy allows us to deliver high-dose radiation far more precisely, sparing critical organs like the heart and healthy lung.” See: On the horizon: proton beam therapy for mesothelioma.

Judicial Setback in Tokyo

Jun 5, 2026

A May 28, 2026 ruling of the Tokyo High Court dismissed a claim brought by construction workers and bereaved families against the government and building material manufacturers for health damage caused by asbestos exposures experienced by construction workers. After the ruling was published, plaintiffs' lawyers announced their intention to appeal the “extremely unjust” verdict. See: 「風で粉じんが希釈される」屋外作業者らの“アスベスト”被害救済認めず東京2陣訴訟でも [“Dust is diluted by the wind”: Compensation for asbestos-related damages suffered by outdoor workers denied in Tokyo second lawsuit].

Victim’s Verdict!

Jun 5, 2026

On May 27, 2026, the Sixth Chamber of the Superior Labor Court of Brazil ordered Teadit Brasil Ltd. to pay compensation of R$200,000 (US$40,000) to a textile worker who developed asbestosis after working from 1973 until 1983 on a production line at the company’s factory. According to her evidence, at no time during her employment did the company adopt safety measures or promote awareness of the asbestos hazard. A lower court had awarded the claimant only R$ 80,000 in damages. See: Tecelã aposentada receberá reparação por doença decorrente de contato com amianto [Retired weaver to receive compensation for illness resulting from contact with asbestos].

Cape Asbestos: Update

Jun 5, 2026

Over the years, many lawyers attempted to hold the former British company Cape Asbestos to account for the damage done by its deadly shipments of asbestos fiber to the US. They failed. On May 28, 2026, a South Carolina (SC) Supreme Court upheld a preliminary ruling in Tibbs v. Asbestos Corp. Limited which will allow litigants “to pursue the foreign insurance assets and liabilities of the English company Cape Intermediate Holdings Limited (CIHL), successor to Cape Asbestos.” The SC Supreme Court ruled that Cape’s provocative refusal to appear in US court proceedings amounted to “moral fraud.” See: South Carolina Supreme Court Decision Raises Historic Asbestos Liability Questions for ESAB.

Calabria’s Asbestos Crisis

Jun 5, 2026

The health emergency created by the asbestos legacy in the Italian region of Calabria remains unaddressed according to the article cited below: “The Region has not invested a single euro in remediation of this dangerous enemy since the promulgation of Regional Law 14/2011, thus losing the famous €43 million in European funds for public buildings in 2022.” The Regional Asbestos Plan, which was approved in 2022 to great acclaim, has now expired and yet no remediation was carried out. See: Emergenza amianto in Calabria, bonifiche ferme e comuni in crisi [Asbestos emergency in Calabria, cleanups stalled and municipalities in crisis].

Asbestos and Cancer: worse than we thought?

Jun 5, 2026

A one-hour webinar held on May 28, 2026 by the UK’s Asbestos Removal and Contractors Association, and the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association addressed topical questions including: Asbestos and Cancer: Is it worse than we thought? According to eminent expert Professor Daniel Murphy, although male mortality rates from asbestos-related diseases are beginning to decline, there are “statistically significant increases among groups not traditionally associated with heavy exposure, including carpenters and joiners, and among female workers in secretarial, teaching and education roles.” Citing new data from Scotland, Murphy said that the number of lung cancers due to asbestos exposures continued to be vastly underestimated. See: Asbestos and Cancer: Is it worse than we thought?

Wind Turbine Asbestos Contamination

Jun 5, 2026

Information contained in the article cited below was minimal and the fact that it was behind a pay wall was frustrating. Nevertheless, a post on LinkedIn which referenced the withheld article said that at least 56 turbines in Sweden had been discovered to contain asbestos in the emergency brakes of their service lifts. According to a statement from Jonas Lundmark of the Nordex Group: “All the lifts were shut down. No one was allowed to ride them, and then the brakes were replaced.” See [Subscription site]: Nordex tightens control as asbestos found in Swedish turbine lifts.

Corporate Chutzpah

Jun 4, 2026

In 2025, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) began a case against the former Dutch company Eternit over the asbestos deaths of three people; the OM accused Eternit of knowingly exposing employees to serious health risks by failing to safeguard workplace conditions. On May 29, 2026, Eternit’s lawyer Daan Doorenbos asked the Almelo Court to have the issue of limitation reviewed by the Supreme Court. “If the Supreme Court rules in my favor, there won’t be any case left” [to answer], he said. Operations at Eternit facilities in Europe, Asia, Latin & North America exposed countless workers to toxic exposures. The developments in the case are being closely watched in many jurisdictions. See: Company accused in asbestos deaths argues case should be dismissed as too old.