News Archive

Information from the links below detail the successful investigation by the authorities in New South Wales (NSW), which secured a guilty verdict for businessman Andrew Hughes and his company Ant Civil Pty Ltd. They were accused of multiple incidents of illegal asbestos dumping in a Sydney suburb. The use of one of the “biggest pollution stings in the history of the NSW Environment Protection Authority” was pivotal to securing the conviction. See: (1) Sydney man and company found guilty of Wheeny Creek pollution.

See: (2) [Subscription site] How a covert tree camera caught an ex-bikie’s massive illegal asbestos dump.

Protecting Citizens from Asbestos

Aug 14, 2026

At an event held in Manila – Advancing Policy, Surveillance, and Care for Asbestos-Related Diseases in the Philippines – on July 23, 2026, organized by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), the National Framework for the Prevention of Asbestos-Related Diseases was launched. The new roadmap “marked a major milestone in the country’s effort to protect citizens from deadly asbestos exposures” according to an article on the website of the Building and Wood Workers’ International. See: Philippines takes major step toward ending asbestos-related diseases.

Victim’s Victory in Tokyo!

Aug 14, 2026

On July 14, 2026, the Tokyo District Court recognized the claim of the bereaved family of a man who died in 2003 from mesothelioma and ordered the Japanese Government to pay compensation of 14.3 million yen (US$90,000), including interest. The court rejected the State’s argument that the statute of limitations for the claim had expired and ruled that the starting point of the statute of limitations was “the time of death.” On July 27, 2026, the Government appealed the verdict. See: アスベスト被害遺族の請求を東京地裁が全面認容。20年の消滅時効は死亡時」から。 [The Tokyo District Court fully accepted the claims of the families affected by asbestos. The 20-year statute of limitations starts from the time of death].

Warning over Toxic Roofing!

Aug 14, 2026

According to the most recent available data, there are approximately one million tonnes of asbestos-containing roofing on buildings in Latvia. Because of the common practice of carrying out household repairs in the summer, government officials on August 7 issued warnings to householders not to remove this toxic material themselves citing World Health Organization advice: “Do not crush it for paving your paths, do not dump it in rubbish bins, nor use it anywhere else as additional support. It must be properly packaged and taken away,” said Rudite Vesere, Deputy State Secretary at the Ministry of Climate and Energy. See: Asbestos-containing roofing still widespread in Latvia.

Another Asbestos Recall

Aug 14, 2026

On August 5, 2026, the Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), UK issued a recall for Craftplay Sand Art Bottles; each pack of this product contained 10 bottles of sand in various colors. The hazard warning on the OPSS site said that the recalled item may “present a risk to health as the sand inside the bottles may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos.” The toxic products, which were sold by Amazon, were made in China. See: Product Recall: Craftplay Sand Art Bottles (10) sold via Amazon (2607-0121).

Senate Ban Asbestos Bill

Aug 14, 2026

On August 4, 2026, two US Senators – Jeff Merkley and John Curtis – introduced draft legislation to comprehensively end all uses of asbestos in the US. In a press release on his website, Merkley noted that “American families and workers deserve to have a future free of exposure to asbestos—a known killer…Our bipartisan bill is necessary to phase out all dangerous asbestos fibers and provide stronger protections for consumers across the United States.” See: Merkley, Curtis Announce Bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026.

National Asbestos Eradication Program

Aug 10, 2026

Despite serious financial constraints and logistical challenges, Rwanda’s program to remove asbestos roofing from public and private buildings is on course to be completed by the end of the 2026/27 financial year. In a statement he made on July 30, 2026, Director General of the Rwanda Housing Authority Alphonse Rukaburandekwe said: “We still have some small portions to be removed. Today, we are at 94 per cent removal for government buildings and 89.2 per cent for privately owned buildings.” See: Asbestos phaseout set for completion in 2027.

Malaga Asbestos Removal Program: Update

Aug 10, 2026

Pursuant to plans by civic officials in Malaga, to eradicate asbestos from the city within six years, a specialist firm – Labore Innova – was commissioned by the Urban Planning Department to use satellite technology to map public and private properties with asbestos-containing roofing and identify high-risk buildings and schools. The municipal removal program complies with Spanish regulations “requiring all high-risk asbestos in public buildings to be cleared by 2028, with full dismantling across private properties mandated by 2032.” See: Malaga outlines six-year plan to eradicate all asbestos across city.

Victim’s Posthumous Victory!

Aug 10, 2026

At the beginning of this month (August 2026), the Cagliari Court of Appeal ordered the Region of Sardinia to pay compensation of €720,000 (US$831,000) to the family of a maintenance worker who died from asbestos-related cancer in 2013. The deceased had worked for the public water company from 1973 until 1998; during his employment, he had been exposed to asbestos whilst repairing and maintaining the water delivery system. See: Amianto killer, maxi risarcimento alla famiglia di un operaio: morì per un tumore ai polmoni [Asbestos Killer: Massive Compensation Awarded to the Family of a Worker Who Died of Lung Cancer].

Asbestos Eradication Program

Aug 10, 2026

During a question and answer session in the upper house of the Malaysian Parliament on July 28, 2026, the Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad announced that the sum of Malaysian Ringgit 1.7 billion (US$~416m) had been allocated by the federal government to replace 1,800 km of ageing asbestos-containing water pipes. Work on this program will be carried out nationwide between 2026 and 2030, he told Senators. See: Allocation of RM1.7b to replace 1,800km of ageing water pipes in 2026-2030 — deputy minister.

Asbestos and Public Health

Aug 10, 2026

The article cited below was published in the run-up to World Lung Cancer Day (August 1, 2026) and highlighted the extensive public health problems created by India’s widespread and continuing use of asbestos-containing products which were “sitting quietly in the roof over your head or the pipe carrying your water…” The reason for the popularity of these toxic products is their price: “Asbestos cement roofing sheets are significantly cheaper than the alternatives, and rural affordable housing depends heavily on them.” See: India never had the J&J scare. It has a bigger asbestos problem, everywhere else.

Summer Propaganda Offensive

Aug 10, 2026

A Russian August 3, 2026 upload rehashed industry arguments supporting continued use of chrysotile (white) asbestos. The author explained that the EU banned asbestos because Europeans had succumbed to “anti-asbestos hysteria.” Contentious articles by industry-commissioned scientists were cited to support the assertion that “Russian research on occupational safety, the effects of chrysotile on human health, and other areas has also concluded that chrysotile can be used in industry.” See: Два волокна и две Европы: почему в странах бывшего соцлагеря не боятся асбеста? [Two fibers and two Europes: why are the countries of the former socialist camp not afraid of asbestos?]

Ruling in Osaka District Court

Aug 7, 2026

On July 29, 2026, the Osaka District Court issued an important ruling in a class action brought by former construction workers against manufacturers of asbestos building products. The Court ordered 8 defendants to pay compensation to 61 plaintiffs, including 27 former construction workers and their families, of over 450 million yen (US$2.9m). See: 建材メーカー８社に４．５億円賠償命じる　建設アスベスト訴訟―大阪地裁 [Osaka District Court Orders 8 Building Material Manufacturers to Pay ¥450 Million in Damages in Construction Asbestos Lawsuit].

More Carrot Less Stick

Aug 7, 2026

To protect public health, improve the population’s quality of health and preserve the environment, Councilwoman Fabi Virgílio from Araraquara City, São Paulo State proposed that a free municipal scheme be implemented for the collection, transportation and disposal of construction waste, including asbestos debris, generated by small-scale operators. According to the councilwoman, the initiative would reduce illegal dumping on public roads, vacant lots, and environmental preservation areas. See: Indicação propõe sistema municipal para coleta e descarte de resíduos de obras e amianto [The proposal suggests a municipal system for the collection and disposal of construction waste and asbestos].

Occupational Asbestos Diseases: New Data

Aug 7, 2026

President Fabrizio D'Ascenzo, of Italy’s National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), last week told a Parliamentary Commission of Enquiry that asbestos exposures continued to endanger workers’ health throughout the country: “asbestos still requires constant and multidisciplinary commitment from all the institutions involved.” There were, he told Parliamentarians, an average of 1,160 cases per year between 2020 and 2024, 41% of which led to tumors, many of which proved fatal. See: L’Inail rilancia l’allarme amianto: ogni anno 1.160 nuovi casi, il 41% sono mortali [INAIL raises the asbestos alarm: 1,160 new cases every year, 41% of which are fatal].

Asbestos Fine for Broker

Aug 7. 2026

Montreal real estate broker Robert Stephen Lefebvre was fined the pathetic sum of $8,000 (US$5,700) for concealing from clients the knowledge that asbestos was present in four apartments he sold in 2021 and 2022. Having admitted the offense, his real estate license was suspended for 60 days. Under industry guidelines, brokers have a duty to disclose to their clients that a building was constructed with asbestos-containing materials as this could have health implications and also affect future sales. See: Asbestos at Habitat 67: a broker fined $8000.

Post-earthquake Hazard!

Aug 7, 2026

The earthquake which hit Japan on July 28, 2026, disrupted the covering of sprayed asbestos fireproofing on steel columns on the 9th floor of the 1980s Kumamoto City Hall. As a temporary measure, sheets were installed to cover up the toxic fireproofing. Most of the people who worked in the eight departments affected were relocated to other rooms to continue their work. See: 熊本市役所の庁舎で一時アスベスト露出　部署を移動して業務継続【令和8年熊本地震】 [Asbestos exposure temporarily occurred at Kumamoto City Hall; operations continued after department relocation [2026 Kumamoto Earthquake]].

New EU Asbestos Guide

Aug 7, 2026

Earlier this summer, the Senior Labour Inspectors Committee (SLIC) – “an official advisory body and formal committee of the European Commission” – published a 55-page non-binding document to assist EU Labour Inspectors carry out better asbestos inspections by providing “practical information and guidance to support inspections focused on preventing workers’ exposure to asbestos in the workplace.” Given that the EU outlawed asbestos use in 2005, current problems are a result of legacy asbestos use in buildings, industrial facilities, ships, aircraft and vehicles, as well as naturally occurring asbestos. See: New SLIC guide on asbestos for labour inspectors published.

J&J Multibillion Dollar Settlement?

Aug 4, 2026

The news was announced last week that the US pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson (J&J) was on track to settle 76,000 lawsuits brought by women suffering from ovarian cancer. The bill for the settlement was estimated at $5.5 billion. The US plaintiffs believed that their cancers were caused by the use of J&J asbestos contaminated talc-based baby powder. Other US cases against J&J which were brought by mesothelioma claimants or their surviving family members were settled previously. See: Johnson & Johnson to pay $5.5bn settlement in talc cancer lawsuit.

Asbestos in the Capital

Aug 4, 2026

In days gone by, Australia was one of world’s biggest asbestos users and producers with mines in New South Wales, Western Australia, Tasmania and South Australia. Although asbestos use was banned in 2003, contamination remains problematic in both the built and natural environments. Last month a government building in Canberra was closed because of the discovery of asbestos-containing material in “non-occupied areas of the building.” Work to remove, clean and remediate the building will be carried out by specialist contractors commissioned by the landlords – Infrastructure Canberra, a government agency. See: Government building to stay shut after more asbestos found.

Landmark Milan Ruling!

Aug 4, 2026

A July 2026 verdict by Judge Marianna Galioto in the Milan Court of Appeal set a 90-day deadline for the shutdown of operations at steelworks in Taranto, southern Italy operated by the company Ilva SpA until “all the asbestos still present in the plant has been completely removed.” The ruling, which overturned a decision by a lower court, highlighted the continuing risk to public health posed by the continuing deterioration of the aging facilities. See: Milan Court of Appeal orders shutdown of hot area of former Ilva within 90 days unless environmental issues are resolved.

Protecting Public Health

Aug 4, 2026

In July 27th articles, it was announced that after recent asbestos discoveries at an active Royal Canadian Air force base in Nova Scotia – 14 Wing Greenwood – and a decommissioned US naval base in Newfoundland and Labrador – Argentia – measures had been implemented to protect the public from toxic exposures. At 14 Wing Greenwood, the Gardens Arena was closed with immediate effect. At the Argentia Naval Base asbestos will be removed from 8 cabins, 7 support buildings and an underground waterline. The site “will become a publicly-accessible green space.” See: Greenwood base closes arena due to discovery of asbestos in building and Plans in Place to Demolish Remaining Infrastructure at Former Argentia Naval Base.

What Does Progress Look Like?

Aug 4, 2026

Reflecting on changes in the content and profile of asbestos discussions in the US, Sean Fitgerald, a certified professional geologist specializing in asbestos environmental studies, wrote: “Today, discussions about testing standards, consumer safety, and scientific evidence are reaching the highest levels of government. That alone represents meaningful change.” Fitzgerald’s conclusions resonated with others in the asbestos professional community outside the US judging by feedback on LinkedIn. This commentary is highly recommended. See: Asbestos Still Kills About 200,000 People a Year. Why Are We Still Arguing About the Science?

Asbestos Find Shuts Building Site

Aug 4, 2026

On July 27, 2026, demolition work was brought to an immediate halt by the district government and the labor inspection department when asbestos-containing sheets were discovered at a demolition site in Nicosia, Cyprus. Following complaints from local people, officials determined that the contractors working at the building were not in compliance with the provisions of the demolition permit. No further work can be undertaken at the site until a plan is drafted to address the contamination as per government guidelines. See: Building demolition ceased after hitting asbestos.

Crucial Research Findings

Jul 29, 2026

Research was conducted in New Zealand by a team led by Associate Professor Terri-Ann Berry into the liberation of asbestos fibers by play-sand products during simulated children’s play. This was the first such research of its kind anywhere in the world. The findings of the New Zealand analysts were confirmed by their counterparts at a US lab: “90% of tested craft sands released asbestos fibres into the air during play activities. Some fibres met the criteria for respirability…This demonstrates that the potential risk from asbestos in the product can create a real risk from fibres in the air…” See: Determination of Asbestos Fibre Release Potential from Contaminated Craft Sand and Sand-Based Toys.