News Archive

The article cited below described the genesis and content of an open letter about the asbestos scandal in Western Hungary. Dániel Holdosi, a campaigner from the town of Szombathely, described how he contacted Laurie Kazan-Allen, the Coordinator of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, and together they reached out to asbestos victims’ groups and others in Latin America, Asia, Europe and Oceania for support of efforts to highlight the public health hazard posed by asbestos-contaminated roads. See: Több, mint 250 kisgyerek életét forgatta fel az azbeszt-ügy - Így hajtotta ki a nyílt levelet a szombathelyi családapa (videó) [The asbestos case turned the lives of more than 250 young children upside down – This is how the father of a family from Szombathely wrote the open letter (video)].

Free Waste Collection and Disposal!

Jul 10, 2026

Earlier this week it was announced that in 2027 Australia’s Labor Government would, under the New South Wales (NSW) Asbestos Plan of Action, be launching a $9 million two-year trial allowing NSW households to have asbestos waste picked up and disposed of for free. This initiative is intended to reduce the amount of asbestos debris currently being illegally disposed of and “create safer environments for workers and the community.” Illegal fly-tipping is a serious problem across NSW costing councils millions of dollars each year to clean up. See: Making It Free To Dispose Of Household Asbestos Waste.

Talc Testing Mystery Solved?

Jul 10, 2026

Last year, the US Federal Drugs Administration unceremoniously axed federal government plans to require manufacturers of talc-based cosmetics to test them for asbestos contamination. This U-turn was contained in an order signed by Robert Kennedy Jr, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. Information disclosed in the article cited below suggested that Kennedy had no knowledge of that order. It was proposed by the author that the impetus for the cancellation of the regulation was a visit to the White House by executives from Johnson & Johnson, a company currently being sued by tens of thousands of US cancer victims. See: MAGA Alliance Fractures Over Toxic Talc As Donald Trump Allegedly Abandons Asbestos Checks To Please Billionaire Execs.

More Asbestos Updates!

Jul 10, 2026

On July 2, 2026, updates for contaminated toys – containing up to 3.23% of asbestos by weight – appeared on the EU’s Safety Gate website. The notifying authority was France. All of the affected products originated in China. They were:

Alert number: SR/01813/26 - Sand-filled figurine toy Stretch squad

Alert number: SR/00980/26 - My living worm world

Alert number: SR/01814/26 - Stretch Monsters. Invincible heroes.

Action Mesothelioma Day

Jul 10, 2026

Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) 503 was tabled on July 1, 2026 by MP Ian Lavery, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Asbestos Sub-Group. The text recognized the personal cost of the national asbestos legacy, acknowledged that July 3 was Action Mesothelioma Day, paid tribute to all the groups working throughout the country to support asbestos victims and called on the former asbestos giant Cape PLC to contribute £10 million towards mesothelioma research. As of July 4, 20 MPs had signed the EDM: 13 Labour, 4 Greens, 2 Liberal Democrats and 1 from the Democratic Unionist Party. See: Early Day Motion (EDM) 503. Action Mesothelioma Day 2026.

What a Good Idea!

Jul 10, 2026

Following the publication of damning results from laboratory tests of asbestos-contaminated sand, on July 3, 2026 it was reported that Professor David McBride, an expert on environmental medicine from the University of Otago, had called on the government to immediately ban all suspect products. Responding to this recommendation, New Zealand’s Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer said urgent consultations were ongoing and included the option of a ban. See: Call for ban of imported play sand due to asbestos fears.

Test Results Announced!

Jul 8, 2026

On July 2, 2026 results we had been waiting for were published which confirmed suspicions that asbestos fibers were liberated during simulated play with contaminated sand. Upon receiving a report from the Auckland research group, the Ministry of Health reconvened an advisory group to assess the findings; its chief medical officer confirmed that the disturbing news would be of concern to the public, parents and caregivers. New Zealand’s Commerce Commission announced that it had opened an investigation into what consumers were told. See: ‘Incredibly disheartening’: Airborne asbestos found in children's play sand.

Three More Asbestos Recalls!

July 8, 2026

On July 1, 2026, the UK’s Office of Product and Safety Standards (OPSS) announced that three more toys had been recalled due to asbestos contamination. They were all made in China. See product recalls:

Galt Sand Stickers Craft Kit (2607-0015)

Fun Sand Art Bottle Kit (2607-0020)

Tickit Sensory Blocks (2606-0321)

In total, in 2026 the OPSS issued 44 recalls for children’s play products contaminated with asbestos (see: Total Recalls for children’s play products in 2026.

Asbestos in Schools

Jul 8, 2026

Asbestos contamination of Hyden Primary School in regional Western Australia (WA) is a source of concern to parents. In June, asbestos debris was, once again, found in the school playground. According to Catherine Mayfield, president of the parents and citizens association, similar finds have been made over the last 12 years. In letters from parents to the WA Education Minister Sabine Winton, calls were made for a comprehensive assessment of the situation and “the urgent removal of contaminated materials.” See: Parents say ‘not enough’ being done to stop asbestos in WA school.

Historic Victim’s Victory!

Jul 8, 2026

A legal case brought by Marshal Claudio Apicella, a 78-year-old former engineer in the Italian Navy was finally resolved last week after battles at the Court of Appeal of Florence and the Court of Cassation (Supreme Court), when the Council of State recognized his right to fair compensation for his occupational injuries. The claimant contracted asbestosis and pleural plaques due to asbestos exposures during 33-years of military service. See: Amianto: dopo una lunga battaglia legale il Consiglio di Stato dà ragione all’ex finanziere di Porto Santo Stefano [Asbestos: after a long legal battle, the Council of State agrees with the former financier of Porto Santo Stefano].

Asbestos Discovery in Vienna

Jul 8, 2026

Following the discovery of asbestos-contaminated roads in Hungary, investigations by Greenpeace in Austria revealed that several streets in Vienna were similarly affected. The source of the toxic material were mines in Austria which had sold mining waste for use as aggregates in the construction of road surfaces. According to a spokesperson for Greenpeace's Austrian investigative team: “an on-site inspection showed that the asbestos stones were already heavily eroded, so vehicles passing through could potentially release asbestos fibres.” See: Azbesztet talált a Greenpeace több bécsi utca aszfaltjában [Greenpeace found asbestos in the asphalt of several streets in Vienna].

Asbestos Legacy

Jul 8, 2026

Research by Hungarian academics published in mid-June 2026 in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health confirmed that: “asbestos-containing brake and clutch materials are still present in hazardous waste streams in Hungary nearly two decades after the EU ban.” According to the co-authors of the paper, the evidence revealed by their investigations suggested that unsafe procedures used for handling and disposing of this material allowed toxic occupational exposures to persist long after asbestos use had been outlawed. See: Persistence of Asbestos-Containing Friction Materials in the Hungarian Waste Stream Twenty Years After the European Union Ban.

Two More Asbestos Recalls!

Jul 6, 2026

On June 29, 2026 the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Ireland recalled: Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit and Various Squishy Toys because of asbestos contamination.

According to the notification: “The products present a risk to health as the sand may contain asbestos. Asbestos is a banned substance across the EU because it poses a risk to health.”

Mesothelioma: Annual UK Data

Jul 6, 2026

Two days before Action Mesothelioma Day (July 3), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released new data on annual work-related fatalities including mesothelioma (see: Mesothelioma statistics for Great Britain, 2026). In 2024, there were 2,146 deaths from mesothelioma in Great Britain, 83% of which (1,771) were male and 17% female (375). According to the data: “Over 70% of annual deaths for both males and females now occur in those aged over 75 years. Annual deaths in this age group continue to increase while deaths below age 65 are decreasing.” See: HSE Press Release.

Flanders vs Eternit

Jul 6, 2026

Last week, the Flemish government announced that it had broken off negotiations with Eternit/Etex over plans for the former asbestos conglomerate to pay for the eradication of contamination caused by its operations. The Flanders Government will now restart proceedings against the former asbestos cement producer. The Government had reached a deal with Eternit in 2014 over asbestos cement waste in the gardens and driveways of residents in Kapelle op den Bos and surrounding municipalities, under which the company agreed to pay 4.8 million euros by 2030. According to former Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir, that sum was insufficient. See: Vlaanderen stopt onderhandelingen met Eternit en stapt opnieuw naar de rechter [Flanders stops negotiations with Eternit and goes to court again].

Asbestos Mining in Shaanxi

Jul 6, 2026

On June 29 2026, an article was uploaded which featured news about the Shaanxi South Asbestos Mine in Ningqiang County, Hanzhong; it is the only large-scale chrysotile asbestos mine in Shaanxi Province. It is one of China’s 8th largest asbestos production facilities. According to the text: “the mining conditions are excellent.” However, a picture illustrating the article of an unprotected miner in an incredibly dusty landscape suggested that this statement was not true. See: 汉中石棉矿全国八大核心基地之一?宁强独家产地成矿干货全揭秘 [Is Hanzhong one of the eight core bases of asbestos mining nationwide? Ningqiang's exclusive production area: the full secrets of mineral development].

Compensation in Catalonia

Jul 6, 2026

The article cited below detailed the legislation in Catalonia providing for the recognition of and compensation available for people suffering from asbestos-related diseases including: mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer and asbestosis. The bodies responsible for the certification process, the approval of benefits and the distribution of funds are the Department of Health, the Secretariat of Public Health and the National Social Security Institute. See: Salut tramita a Catalunya el certificat de patologies derivades de l'exposició a l'amiant [Health processes the certificate of pathologies derived from asbestos exposure in Catalonia].

Use of AI for Mesothelioma Research

Jul 6, 2026

Research, coordinated by the Netherlands Cancer Institute, by scientists in six countries, which was published in The Lancet on June 17, 2026, reported the results of work “to develop and validate artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted volumetric response criteria (ARTIMES) based on automated tumour segmentation and biologically derived thresholds.” Based on almost 11,000 scans of 2,080 patients from 14 cohorts, there was evidence showing that the use of the new AI technique was beneficial: “ARTIMES could potentially facilitate a more reliable response evaluation in pleural mesothelioma.” See: Development and validation of artificial intelligence-assisted volumetric response criteria in pleural mesothelioma (ARTIMES): a retrospective, multicohort, multicentre study.

Scottish Action on Asbestos

Jul 3, 2026

Draft legislation under consideration by the Scottish Government will set a three-year time limit for the resolution of personal injury claims by mesothelioma patients. This initiative is in response to calls from campaigners and recommendations from the Scottish Law Commission. According to Community care minister Alison Thewliss: “The current law on time limits can create real difficulties for people diagnosed with mesothelioma – potentially leaving them unable to seek a legal remedy through no fault of their own.” See: Scottish Government aims for clear time limits for asbestos patients.

New Legal Precedent in Tokyo

Jul 3, 2026

A settlement was reached at the Tokyo District Court on June 26, 2026 in a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of former construction workers injured by occupational asbestos exposures. Three former asbestos building products’ manufacturers apologized for injuries sustained by 12 claimants and agreed to pay ~189 million yen ($US 1.16m). According to the article cited below, this is the first class-action asbestos settlement by a first instance court for construction workers. See: 建設アスベスト訴訟、一審で初の集団和解「早期救済に一歩前進 [First-ever collective settlement reached in first-instance construction asbestos lawsuit: “A step forward towards early relief”].

Asbestos Legacy

Jul 3, 2026

The risk posed by the continuing use of asbestos-cement water tanks in Brazilian homes was analyzed in the commentary cited below. As the commercialization of asbestos was banned by the Supreme Court in 2017, the new use of asbestos is outlawed in Brazil. “Replacing an asbestos water tank,” wrote the author “is no longer just a matter of aesthetics or preventative maintenance. Today, it's a matter of complying with a consolidated national ban, protecting the health of those living in the house and those working on the construction.” See: Adeus, caixa d’água de amianto: a troca virou obrigação legal em todo o Brasil [Goodbye, asbestos water tanks: replacement has become a legal obligation throughout Brazil].

Asbestos Eradication Budget

Jul 3, 2026

Regional authorities in Tuscany allocated the sum of €1.5 million (US$1.7m) for grants earmarked to eradicate the asbestos hazard from public buildings in Florence and other municipalities in the Region. Subsidies of up to 100% – with a maximum of €300,000 per project – are available for asbestos removal work, transport of toxic building rubble and safe disposal of all materials containing asbestos as per provincial and national regulations. See: Dalla Regione 1,5 milioni di euro per eliminare l’amianto dagli edifici pubblici [1.5 million euros from the Region to eliminate asbestos from public buildings].

Asbestos Miners’ Mortality Incidence

Jul 3, 2026

A paper by four South African researchers based in Cape Town was uploaded last month to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Using a database from the Asbestos and Kgalagadi Relief Trusts, the scientists assessed all-cause mortality among this cohort of former asbestos miners. The excess all-cause mortality found was confined to female cohort members. Concluding the paper, the authors wrote: “These findings support risk stratification and targeted interventions, particularly early management of respiratory complications and smoking cessation, to reduce mortality.” See: An Evaluation of Mortality Rates and Their Determinants in a Cohort of Former Asbestos Miners in South Africa.

Managing a Public Health Crisis

Jul 3, 2026

An open letter by Greenpeace to Dr. Zsolt Hegedus – Hungary’s Minister of Health – and László Gajdos – the Minister for the Living Environment – regarding the management of asbestos contamination in Western Hungary was uploaded on June 3, 2026. The text highlighted the need for accurate and timely information and urged the authorities to consult with local governments and specialist organizations on the steps which would be taken to protect public health. See: A Greenpeace nyílt levele dr. Hegedus Zsoltnak és Gajdos Lászlónak a nyugat-magyarországi azbesztszennyezés kezelésével kapcsola [Greenpeace's open letter to Dr. Zsolt Hegedus and László Gajdos regarding the management of asbestos contamination in Western Hungary].

Asbestos Phase-Out

Jul 2, 2026

Last week, the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) committed to “phasing out asbestos accommodation and offices at its camps and relocating personnel to safer facilities.” On June 23, BDF Commander General Mpho Mophuting told members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the BDF’s bases at Paje and Pandamatenga were contaminated with asbestos. It would take three years to dismantle and dispose of the toxic structures, he said. In the meantime, staff would be moved to temporary accommodation. See: Botswana: BDF to Phase Out Asbestos Camps.