News Archive

During the October 23-24, 2026 Jakarta meeting of the International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific (ITUC-AP), calls were made for an immediate end to asbestos use in Indonesia. ITUC-AP General Secretary Shoya Yoshida expressed concern over excessive asbestos consumption in Asia, which accounted for more than 80% of the 1.3 million tons of asbestos used annually around the world: “Every year, more than 200,000 workers worldwide die from asbestos-related diseases. In fact, approximately 70 percent of all work-related cancer cases are caused by exposure to this toxic substance.” See: Lindungi Pekerja, ITUC-AP Imbau Setop Asbes [Protect Workers: ITUC-AP Calls for an End to Asbestos Use].

Asbestos Legacy in Mafefe

Nov 3, 2026

A four-minute clip by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) uploaded to YouTube on October 24, 2026 reviewed the asbestos legacy of widespread contamination in Mafefe, Limpopo Province, one of South Africa’s former asbestos mining towns. According to community members “asbestos-contaminated particles are being washed into rivers where they draw water for domestic use. The nearby mountains once housed some of the country's asbestos mines.” South Africa was the only country to ever mine all three of the commercially used forms of asbestos: chrysotile (white), amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue) asbestos. See: Asbestos contamination leads to health challenges in Mafefe, Limpopo.

Asbestos Compensation Fund: Update

Nov 3, 2026

According to figures just released, Belgium’s Asbestos Fund (AFA) disbursed €21.84 million (US$24,300,000) in compensation in 2025 to victims of asbestos-related diseases and their beneficiaries. According to the AFA’s latest activity report, which was published on October 22, 2026, mesothelioma – the signature cancer associated with asbestos exposure – accounted for 82.4% of the compensation paid. In 2025, the Fund issued decisions on 344 submissions, 210 (61%) of which were successful. See: Le Fonds amiante a versé 21,84 millions d’euros d’indemnités en 2025 [The Asbestos Fund paid out €21.84 million in compensation in 2025].

Victory in Brasilia!

Nov 3, 2026

The Sixth Chamber of Brazil’s Superior Labor Court ordered Teadit Brasil Ltda. to pay compensation of BrR$ 200,000 (US$37,000) to an employee who contracted asbestosis after working for the company between 1973 and 1983 in the spinning and weaving of asbestos fibers. She was diagnosed 33 years after she had left the company. Teadit denied that it had acted negligently; the Court disagreed. See: Tecelã aposentada receberá reparação por doença decorrente de contato com amianto [Retired weaver to receive compensation for illness resulting from contact with asbestos].

Asbestos Scandal: Recap

Nov 3, 2026

A video which was uploaded to the website of Germany's largest public-service broadcasting network – ARD/ Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Association of Public Broadcasting Corporations in the Federal Republic of Germany) – on October 22, 2026 recapped the unfolding of the 2026 asbestos scandal in Austria and Hungary. Widespread contamination was linked to the mining and use of asbestos-contaminated aggregates produced by four quarries in Burgenland, Austria. Contamination was identified in Austria by Greenpeace as well as in Hungary. I was unable to view the video in London. See: Re: Asbestos alert in Austria.

Support for Victims & their Families

Nov 3, 2026

Between October 22 and 30, 2026 two Asbestos Victims’ Healing Camps were held in the Cheollipo Arboretum in Taean, South Korea to provide psychological support to asbestos victims and their families. This initiative was started in 2015 “to promote the emotional recovery and improve the quality of life of victims, separate from the relief benefits provided to those recognized as asbestos victims.” Over eleven hundred people took part in the 29 Healing Camps held over the years. See: 충남도, 석면피해자·가족 심리적 안정 지원 [South Chungcheong Province Provides Psychological Stability Support for Asbestos Victims and Their Families].

Government Action on Asbestos

Nov 2, 2026

On October 23, 2026, New Zealand’s Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (MCCA) and Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) made announcements detailing the government’s response to the asbestos-contaminated sand scandal. The MCCA’s notice declared that consumer sand products such as toys and decorative craft material are “unsafe goods” which must be tested for asbestos prior to being sold in New Zealand. The MBIE reinforced this new requirement confirming that testing of these designated goods was mandatory. See: Unsafe Goods (Consumer Sand Products) Notice 2026.

Mandatory asbestos testing for some consumer sand products.

Asbestos Management or Removal?

Nov 2, 2026

According to data released last week by official sources, 90% of buildings in the Belgian capital are estimated to contain asbestos. State Secretary for the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region Ans Persoons denied that the Flemish policy of eradicating the asbestos hazard from the built environment by 2040 was suitable for the capital due to major differences in the nature of the problems faced. The defensive position chosen by the authorities in Brussels includes the use of a regional digital platform to record asbestos audits and facilitate the timely monitoring of affected buildings. See: Asbestos likely in up to 90% of Brussels buildings.

Rome Court of Appeal: Update!

Nov 2, 2026

A ten-year legal struggle ended with a victim’s verdict being handed down by the Court of Appeal in Rome. INAIL – the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work – was ordered to pay the widow of an asbestos victim €200,000 (US$224,000). The deceased had been exposed to asbestos during his employment as a mechanic at the maintenance workshops of the Lazio Transport Company which was responsible for the upkeep of “the main suburban and inter-urban public transportation network in the Lazio region of Italy, centered around Rome.” See: Soriano nel Cimino, tumore legato all’amianto: riconosciuti 200mila euro alla vedova [Soriano nel Cimino, asbestos-related cancer: 200 thousand euros awarded to widow].

Asbestos in the Tunnel

Nov 2, 2026

According to a news report issued last week, asbestos removal work due to begin at the beginning of 2027 on the Kingsway Tunnel in Liverpool is expected to take at least two years at a cost of ~ £4.6million (US$6.1m). To limit disruption to traffic, most of the work is scheduled to be undertaken during planned overnight closures. Workers using specialist protective equipment and clothing will remove 8,000 asbestos panels weighing 500 tonnes as well as other asbestos-containing material used during the tunnel’s construction between 1966 and 1971. See: Asbestos removal work in Mersey tunnel set to take two years.

New Call for Asbestos Ban!

Nov 2, 2026

The timely text cited below was written by Ayobami Ogundairo, who called on the Nigerian Government to take proactive action regarding the hazard posed by asbestos contamination of the national infrastructure. For decades, asbestos products were used in Nigeria for roofing, ceiling boards, floor tiles, pipes and insulation materials. Calling for a “clear, comprehensive and enforceable national framework prohibiting all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing products,” the author said his country must not became an asbestos dumping ground for toxic products shunned by other nations. See: The Dangers of Asbestos.

Northern Cape Screening Initiative

Nov 2, 2026

In a statement made on October 19, 2026, it was announced that South Africa’s Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, the Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul and the Northern Cape Health MEC Nontobeko Vilakazi would lead “an integrated community health screening programme in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District.” The purpose of this initiative was to identify people in the former asbestos mining area of Kuruman with asbestos-related conditions and diseases due to historic occupational or environmental exposures. See: Health Minister to lead health screening in Northern Cape.

Complying with EU Asbestos Directive

Oct 26, 2026

It was reported by the Spanish media on October 20, 2026 that pursuant to EU Directive 2023/2668 (Asbestos Protection), Spain's Council of Ministers had approved a Royal Decree lowering asbestos exposure limits and extending record-keeping to 40 years. To improve workers’ protections, the daily exposure limit for asbestos was decreased to 0.01 fibres/cm³; it was mandated that compliance be verified by the use of electron microscopy; all fibers, including those under 0.2 µm, must be counted. A number of administrative actions were also introduced to safeguard occupational health. See: Spain Tightens Workplace Exposure Rules for Asbestos, Lead and Diisocyanates.

Asbestos Discovery in Vienna

Oct 26, 2026

During work on Maxingstraße Street in the Hietzing district of Vienna to install a new district heating system, asbestos was discovered in a 25-year old asphalt road surface. Workers commissioned by the municipal authorities removed the toxic material using special protections such as the erection of special fences and the use of water suppression techniques. Advisors from Greenpeace were in attendance to ensure adequate safeguards were in place. According to a statement issued by the City of Vienna “there is no danger for residents.” See: Hietzing: Asbestos Discovery During District Heating Construction Work.

NHS Asbestos Protections Need Data

Oct 26, 2026

On October 20, 2026, the Society of Radiographers (SoR) and the Occupational Safety and Health All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) jointly called on the government to lift the cap on freedom of information (FOI) requests. Under current restrictions, government departments are prevented from responding to requests costing more than £450 to fulfil. According to the SoR and the Parliamentary Group, this barrier was “preventing scrutiny, hindering research and obstructing efforts to protect NHS staff from asbestos-related risks…” See: SoR demands more freedom of information requests into NHS asbestos data.

Asbestos Eradication in Kisumu City

Oct 26, 2026

Pursuant to a directive by Kenya’s Ministry of Environment to eliminate asbestos from the built environment, work began at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital to remove aging asbestos roofs and replace them with safer material. According to Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Joshua Okise: “We want our healthcare workers and staff to work in a safe environment and our clients to feel satisfied by the services that we are improving in all facets, including replacement of asbestos with more health-friendly roofing.” See: Jaramogi Oginga hospital begins replacing cancer-causing asbestos roofs.

Asbestos at the Museum

Oct 26, 2026

A timely blog by staff at the Museum of Communication in Bern, Switzerland reviewed the deadly history of asbestos with a focus on Swiss developments. The Museum had direct experience of dealing with the hazard as a number of items in its collection were contaminated; some were discarded but 20 items were remediated at a cost of ~20,000 Swiss francs (US$24,250). Other Swiss institutions – such as the Foundation for Art, Culture and History – also had asbestos problems. The evolution during the 20th century of the Swiss Eternit asbestos conglomerate was also discussed at some length. This blog is recommended reading. See: Asbest – ewiges Gift [Asbestos – Eternal Poison].

Younger Workers Not Asbestos Aware

Oct 26, 2026

The text cited below was written by Ingvill Kvernmo, the Director of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. The author highlighted the decreasing amount of asbestos knowledge amongst younger workers: “Today's young workers have no personal experience with the substance. Therefore, they depend on adults taking responsibility.” In Norway, work is underway to make buildings more energy efficient; many of the buildings being renovated contained asbestos. To prevent potentially deadly exposures, the Labour Inspection Authority is prioritizing work to “to identify and manage the risks before work begins.” See: Innlegg: Asbesten er forbudt – men ikke borte [Post: Asbestos is banned – but not gone].

Ban Asbestos Mobilization in KL

Oct 23, 2026

On October 20 & 21, 2026 campaigners from countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region gathered together at the 2026 conference of the Asian Ban Asbestos Network (ABAN) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The name of the event: “Seize the Momentum, Asbestos Ban Everywhere” aptly set the stage for what was to follow. According to colleagues who attended the conference, there was a high level of engagement by delegates with the presentations from ABAN colleagues from Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand, Fiji and Australia. More information to follow!

See: Conference Banner.

Improving Occupational Protection

Oct 23, 2026

An October 20, 2026 upload detailed nine standards adopted by Ukraine for protecting the population from deadly asbestos exposures. The implementation of the new protocols for “collecting samples, testing construction materials and demolition debris for asbestos, and measuring the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air,” will more closely align Ukrainian practices with European requirements such as those stipulated in Directive 2009/148/EC on occupational asbestos protections. See: Ukraine adopts European-aligned asbestos standards to improve safety of demolition waste.

Mesothelioma Compensation: Update

Oct 23, 2026

On October 19, 2026, Minister Sir Stephan Timms led a parliamentary debate regarding reforms to mesothelioma and dust-disease compensation. The official policy reforms were originally presented to Parliament in September 2026; on October 19 in a Parliamentary Debate Minister Timms introduced the draft regulations which would “ensure that eligible dependents and bereaved families receive equal lump-sum compensation matching the full sufferer rate, effectively closing a historical financial gap.” See: Draft Mesothelioma Lump Sum Payments (Conditions and Amounts) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2026.

Asbestos in Schools

Oct 23, 2026

On October 20, 2026, a committee of South Africa’s Parliament told the Department of Education of their concerns regarding the remaining asbestos contamination of 1,000 schools in the Eastern Cape Province. The Committee Chairperson Makhi Feni pressed the Department for a commitment to urgently address the health hazard posed to children and staff by the asbestos roofing and eradicate the toxic material at the earliest possible opportunity. See: Parliamentary committee presses Department of Education over uneradicated asbestos in schools.

Asbestos Roofing in Busan

Oct 23, 2026

Despite the introduction of legislation designed to end the hazard posed by the historic use of asbestos-containing roofing, 20,000 buildings in Busan, South Korea continue to pose a public health risk. In the article cited below examples were provided of deteriorating asbestos roofing in several Busan neighborhoods. Commenting on the situation Moon Seong-jae, Director of the Asbestos Center at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital, said: “The best way to prevent asbestos-related diseases is to avoid exposure to asbestos.” See: 어린이집 앞 석면지붕 빼곡…소유주들 빈집 등 이유로 방치 [Asbestos roofs densely cover structures near a daycare center; owners leave them neglected, citing reasons such as the buildings being vacant].

Asbestos in Schools

Oct 23, 2026

Following public concerns over the health hazard posed to children and staff at Cascais Secondary School in the Portuguese city of Cascais, the local Council reported on October 19, 2026 that the remaining asbestos-containing material in the building would be removed on October 21, 2026. Increased safety measures would be put in place to prevent the liberation of asbestos fibers during the work. Most of the eradication work – which removed 80% of the toxic material in the school – was carried out previously. See: Câmara de Cascais retomou remoção de amianto na antiga escola secundária [Cascais City Council resumes asbestos removal at the former secondary school].

Asbestos Double Standards

Oct 21, 2026

An insightful article by Linda Mujuru, which appeared in the October 17, 2026 issue of the online publication “The Continent,” questioned why asbestos roofing was still being produced and sold for domestic use in Zimbabwe while only asbestos-free substitutes were being exported. Asbestos production ceased in Zimbabwe in 2010. The country’s largest user of imported asbestos is Turnall Holdings: “about 53% of its current range contains the material.” Medical experts and union officials in Zimbabwe are aware of the health hazard and there is some support from the Cement, Lime and Allied Workers Union for a transition to safer materials. See: Banned Abroad, Safe for Home.