News Archive

The information contained in an article which appeared in The Guardian newspaper on January 24, 2026 was replicated over subsequent days in national and local newspapers, including the Independent, the Scotsman, Birmingham Live, the Mail Online and Wales Online. The journalist related the reaction of a concerned parent who had samples from a product sold in the UK at a Hobbycraft retail outlet tested for the presence of asbestos. Three out of five of the samples of colored sand in the Hobbycraft kit contained tremolite asbestos, a known carcinogen. Hobbycraft withdrew the product from its shelves but did not issue a recall. See: Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK.

Asbestos Warning!

Jan 28, 2026

As the remediation and rebuilding efforts continue in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah (November 2025), the Director of Sri Lanka’s Centre for Occupational Safety and Health Aseni Wickramatillake highlighted the hazard posed by the use of asbestos-cement roofing on schools during reconstruction work. “Schools are,” Wickramatillake wrote “spaces of prolonged, daily exposure, making the continued presence of asbestos roofing especially troubling from both a health and ethical standpoint.” We agree. See: Rebuilding schools, repeating risks: Why Sri Lanka must act now on asbestos.

Prioritizing Asbestos Safety

Jan 28, 2026

The legacy of widespread asbestos use in New Zealand continues to pose a serious challenge to business and property owners. With the introduction of mandatory regulations and tighter guidelines, the demand for certified asbestos removal specialists has outstripped supply. There has been, according to the article cited below, a shift “towards proactive risk management… [to] avoid costly project delays and potential health hazards, whilst ensuring compliance with workplace safety regulations that govern asbestos handling across residential and commercial settings.” See: Asbestos Awareness Growing As New Zealand Addresses Legacy Building Materials.

Progress in Barcelona

Jan 28, 2026

Work is continuing, by officials representing Barcelona City Council, to promote “the complete eradication of asbestos on all public and private roofs in the city. A committee meeting last week, chaired by Mayor Jaume Collboni, considered amendments to the law for the management and removal of asbestos from Catalonia. According to official estimates, there are four million tons of asbestos-containing material in Catalonia, much of which has reached the end of its useful life. See: Barcelona impulsa la erradicación del amianto en la ciudad [Barcelona promotes the eradication of asbestos in the city].

Asbestos Prosecution

Jan 28, 2026

The Nagano Labor Standards Inspection Office, Japan recently confirmed that it was investigating the actions of the director of JR East Japan and Nagano General Vehicle Center who is under suspicion of illegally selling asbestos-containing electric heater parts from scrapped railway cars in July 2025. The matter was subsequently referred to prosecutors over alleged infringements of the Industrial Safety and Health Act. See: 却した疑いで書類送検 185系電車を解体、電気暖房器の部品から除去せず売却 JR東日本「再発防止を徹底する」[JR East to take responsibility for dismantling 185 series trains and selling them without removing electric heater parts].

Asbestos Informercial: Puerto Rico

Jan 28, 2026

The text cited below by an environmental specialist company highlighted the continued presence of asbestos-containing building materials remaining in Puerto Rico’s built environment. Many types of vinyl floor files, asphalt tiles and adhesives used to secure them were made with asbestos. “Many buildings across Puerto Rico still have original flooring materials that people assume are harmless… Disturbing them without proper precautions can create a dangerous exposure situation for workers and building occupants.” See: Hidden Dangers of Asbestos-Containing Floor Tiles in Puerto Rico’s Homes and Buildings.

Victory for Firefighter!

Jan 26, 2026

On January 20, 2026, Judge Valentina Cingano of the Genoa Court ordered Italy’s Ministry of the Interior to pay compensation of about €1 million (US$1.18m) to the surviving family – including his grandchildren – of a firefighter who had died of an asbestos-related disease due to toxic workplace exposures. During his professional career, the deceased had routinely used asbestos-containing blankets, gloves and masks without any information or warnings about how to avoid deadly exposures. See: Vigile del fuoco morto per amianto: condannato Ministero dell’Interno [Firefighter died from asbestos: Ministry of the Interior guilty].

Toxic or Non-Toxic Talc?

Jan 26, 2026

Since Brexit, the pace of workplace asbestos protections in the EU has accelerated, unlike the stagnation persisting in the UK. Differing positions on the cancer hazard posed by the use of talc-containing cosmetics also exist. While “UK regulators backed a lung toxicity warning for talc but said there is not enough evidence to label it a carcinogen, EU scientific advisors recommended classifying talc as a Category 1B carcinogen, citing ovarian cancer signals and animal tumor data.” See: UK and EU split on cosmetic talc cancer risk as contamination clouds evidence.

Asbestos in Gaza

Jan 26, 2026

A 3-minute report by Al Jazeera’s Moath al-Kahlout which was uploaded last week to YouTube documented the hazard to residents in Gaza City from asbestos contained in the air and mountains of waste caused by the war. According to UN officials, there is more than 2.3 million tonnes of construction waste, most of which could be contaminated by asbestos. Human exposures to asbestos can cause debilitating and even fatal diseases as well as cancers. Footage from Gaza substantiated the widespread damage done to the infrastructure, much of which contained asbestos. See: Palestinians in Gaza face deadly asbestos risk from toxic war rubble.

Small Victory for Cancer Claimants

Jan 26, 2026

On January 20, 2026, retired US District Judge Freda Wolfson ruled that experts who support allegations made by ovarian cancer plaintiffs against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) could testify in a product liability lawsuit being overseen by U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp in a New Jersey Court. Judge Wolfson was asked by Judge Sharp to review the evidence and decide “what expert testimony would be allowed at trial, based on whether it meets the scientific standards set out in federal law.” The claimants believed that their cancers were caused by the use of J&J talc-based baby powder for personal hygiene. See: U.S. judge allows experts to testify that talc products cause cancer in J&J cases.

Asbestos Phase-Out Confirmed

Jan 26, 2026

After previous statements by officials representing the Cambodian Government that asbestos consumption would be banned unilaterally, confirmation of this policy was contained in a government press release issued on January 23, 2026 which pledged to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals such as asbestos and mercury. By adopting a circular supply chain and eliminating toxic chemicals, Cambodia hopes to become “a regional leader in promoting sustainability in the fashion and construction sectors.” See: Cambodia Initiates National Action to Phase Out Hazardous Chemicals in Key Supply Chains.

Increasing EU Asbestos Protections

Jan 26, 2026

Last month (December 2025), The European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion issued new recommendations to assist EU member states to “update and further develop existing EU guidelines” in order to increase occupational awareness of the asbestos hazard, encourage adoption of good practice and provide supplemental information to reduce inequalities across the EU, especially in countries where asbestos awareness was relatively low. See: Guidelines for managing asbestos related health and safety risks at work.

Confusion over New Proposals

Jan 21, 2026

An article uploaded on January 19, 2026 included conflicting statements about new plans by the Vietnam Government to deal with the asbestos hazard. Whilst acknowledging the human and environmental hazards posed by asbestos processing and consumption, the author of the text about a new draft decree seemed to indicate that new technology might be mandated to allow the production of asbestos-cement products to continue. Enquiries are being made to clarify the precise nature of the proposed legislation. See: Bộ Xây dựng đề xuất cấm đầu tư mới, mở rộng sản xuất tấm lợp fibro xi măng [The Ministry of Construction proposes to prohibit new investment, and expand the production of [non-asbestos] fiber cement roofing sheets.

Deadly Asbestos Legacy

Jan 21, 2026

Few places in the UK have been hit harder by asbestos-related deaths than Scotland. The article, by a legal asbestos specialist, cited below reported that “over 400 cases were litigated in Scotland in 2025 and the field continues to generate complex legal disputes. Asbestos litigation remains a significant and sensitive area of personal injury law in Scotland.” The elevated incidence of these diseases north of the border stem from decades of asbestos use in Scottish industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and construction. A new Asbestos Damages Bill will be considered by the Scottish Parliament this year. See: Shadow of asbestos still falls on families today.

Asbestos & the CGIL

Jan 21, 2026

In the feature cited below, Nicola Pondrano, a life-long trade union activist and former Eternit worker, discussed his feelings in the aftermath of a shocking TV exposé broadcast in Italy on January 4, 2026. He reported the extensive surveillance carried out by an industrial spy on the campaigners for asbestos justice, the elevated incidence of asbestos mortality as a result of corporate negligence and the use of legal and extra-legal measures to forestall criminal convictions. See: Eternit, Report: ancora alla ricerca di giustizia, nonostante tutto- Tre domande a: Nicola Pondrano [Eternit Report: Still Seeking Justice, Despite Everything – Three Questions for Nicola Pondrano].

Asbestos in Schools

Jan 21, 2026

As children at schools in Gauteng, South Africa returned to their studies at the start of the Winter 2026 school term, the education of others remained in doubt due to a lack of capacity. Administrative difficulties amongst sundry provincial departments were, said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, preventing much-needed remediation work being carried out on some of the educational infrastructure, such as the old school in Sedebeng East in Emfuleni municipality, which remained closed because of asbestos contamination. See: Abandoned school building raises questions as Gauteng battles classroom shortages.

Asbestos and the Air Force

Jan 21, 2026

Italy’s Ministry of Defense was ordered to pay compensation to Air Force Marshal Nicola Panei by the Lazio Regional Administrative Court. According to the Court’s ruling, the conditions Panei was suffering from, including asbestosis, chronic-obstructive pulmonary disease and a reactive anxiety-depressive syndrome, were all related to the asbestos exposures he received during his 27 years of military service. See: Amianto e salute dei militari: il TAR Lazio condanna la Difesa, risarcimento al maresciallo di Fara Sabina, Nicola Panei [Asbestos and health of the military: the Lazio Regional Administrative Court condemns the Defense, compensation to Fara Sabina marshal, Nicola Panei].

Asbestos Eradication Program

Jan 21, 2026

Municipal funding of 1.018 billion won (US$693,000) has been allocated for a 2026 project to remove asbestos roofing on 210 buildings in Anseong City, South Korea. Applications will be accepted from February 2 to March 10, 2026 with priority given to applications from pensioners and vulnerable people. Commenting on this initiative, an Anseong City official said: “We urge citizens to actively apply to prevent health risks from asbestos-containing slate.”See: 노후 석면 슬레이트 지붕 철거 지원신청 접수 [Acceptance of applications for support for demolition of old asbestos slate roofs].

New Asbestos Ban Soon?

Jan 19, 2026

On Thursday January 15, 2026, Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup in the ministry’s New Year message told reporters that the government acknowledged increasing public support for a national asbestos ban. “We are aware of it… We will come up with more information about it perhaps in the next few months.” According to a ministerial statement from 2025, the Department of Environment was conducting a study about the use of asbestos and the health and environmental impacts it had on the country and its citizens. See: Govt reviewing use of asbestos-based materials — minister.

BC’s Asbestos Ghost Town

Jan 19, 2026

The well-researched piece cited below described the “disappearance” of a former Canadian asbestos mining town: Cassiar. During the 20th century, 50,000 people were toxically exposed to the fiber which had been the town’s raison d'être for 40 years. Once the mine was closed in 1992 and the town was dismantled, former workers and residents dispersed. According to journalist Amanda Follett Hosgood, the collection of information on the number of people who contracted asbestos-related diseases from exposures in Cassiar, British Columbia is severely hampered by their forced exile from their home town. See: A Mining Town Scattered Residents, and Asbestos, to the Wind.

Progress Update!

Jan 19, 2026

According to Emanuele Capra, the Mayor of the town at the center of Italy’s asbestos epidemic: “The city of Casale Monferrato is today one of the safest and most monitored places in the world for asbestos safety.” The reason the Mayor gave for this assertion was the remediation work undertaken over the last 40 years which removed 1.89 million square meters of asbestos-containing material from the municipal infrastructure and sent 51,200 tons of toxic debris to landfills. See: Casale Monferrato quarant’anni dopo l’Eternit: rimossi quasi due milioni di metri quadrati di amianto [Casale Monferrato, forty years after the Eternit disaster: nearly two million square meters of asbestos removed].

Disaster Aftermath: Asbestos Update

Jan 19, 2026

On the first-year anniversary of the wildfires which decimated communities in Southern California, it was reported that some of the houses which had survived in Altadena and Pacific Palisades and been “cleaned” still registered levels of asbestos and lead “that exceed EPA safety levels.” By September 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had cleared 2.6 million tons of ash, debris and contaminated soil from the area, much of which contained toxic material like asbestos and lead paint. See: It’s Been One Year Since Wildfires Devastated Los Angeles. What Have We Learned?

Asbestos in Schools

Jan 19, 2026

An investigation by Enquêtes d'actu [News Investigations] – a primetime French TV magazine program – on the scandal of asbestos contamination of schools which was broadcast this month reported that: more than half of all schools did not have updated mandatory asbestos audits; there was a worrying lack of transparency regarding remediation work commissioned by municipalities; and medical follow-up for at-risk teachers, staff and students was inadequate. See: Amiante dans les écoles : l'Éducation nationale et les maires défaillants ? Le résumé de notre enquête [Asbestos in schools: National Education and the failing mayors? Summary of our investigation].

School Remediation Funding

Jan 19, 2026

After the furore caused by news last year that asbestos-contaminated educational products – various types of coloured sand – had been used in schools throughout New Zealand, the government announced in January 2026 that funding would be available to help state and state-integrated schools “who have incurred or will be incurring asbestos removal, decontamination or building-related remediation costs due to asbestos in coloured sand” decontaminate affected premises. Applications for the one-off grant from the Ministry of Education can be made online using Application Form for Financial Support - Asbestos in Coloured Sand.
See: One-off grant for state and state-integrated schools affected by asbestos in coloured sand.

Paying the Price for Asbestos Profits

Jan 15, 2026

The humanitarian catastrophe and environmental destruction caused by the operations – from 1953 to 1992 – of the asbestos mine in Cassair, northern British Columbia was the focus of the informative and highly recommended article which is cited below. No information was provided by the mine owners or managers about the hazard posed by human exposures to asbestos. According to ex-employee Floyd Joseph: “People didn’t realize how dangerous it was…It wasn’t known until after [the mine] shut down. Then everybody found out how bad it was.” See: The Town That Asbestos Built. The Cancer It Left Behind.