News Archive

Ground-breaking research by concerned New Zealand parents exposed the misinformation disseminated by retailers and government officials about the hazards posed by children’s use of asbestos-contaminated toys. According to the narrative spread by Kmart – a “highly popular chain of discount department stores” in Australia and New Zealand – the use of these products was “low risk.” A report finally released by the New Zealand authorities showed that the source of this advice was a corporate risk assessment that “did not involve any additional testing or even a visual inspection of the contaminated products.” See: Elle’s twins played with asbestos-contaminated coloured sand for a year. Why wasn’t she warned of its danger?

HSE Victory in Welsh Court

Aug 17, 2026

On July 6, 2026, a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) resulted in a guilty verdict and a £36,000 fine (US$49,000) at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, Wales for the waste and recycling company: World Care (Wales) Limited. As a result of a routine inspection by HSE staff, multiple infringements of mandatory asbestos regulations were discovered, including the company’s failures to provide asbestos awareness training for the workforce. See: North Wales waste and recycling company fined over welfare facilities and repeated site failures.

The Sinking of the São Paulo

Aug 17, 2026

Three years ago, the Brazilian navy disposed of the contentious and contaminated national flagship – the São Paulo – by “sinking it in a controlled manner.” The toxic hull now lies in a secret location ~350 kilometers off the Brazilian coast at a depth of 5,000 meters. Buried at sea with the São Paulo was a dangerous cocktail of asbestos, toxic paints, and industrial waste. How and why this story unfolded was explained in an article published earlier this month. See: La France a vendu un porte-avions de 265 m au Brésil en 2000 : 23 ans plus tard, il coulait avec tout ce qu’il contenait encore [France sold a 265m aircraft carrier to Brazil in 2000; 23 years later, it sank with everything still on board

South Australia: New Strategy

Aug 17, 2026

A report published by the Australian State of South Australia detailed the State’s new strategy for protecting workers and members of the public from potentially deadly exposures to asbestos and silica. Over the next five years, WorkSafe SA – “the government agency in South Australia that keeps workplaces safe” – will work to: raise asbestos awareness amongst younger workers; identify trades at high-risk of asbestos exposures; ensure compliance with the ban on engineered stone; foster partnerships with academics and researchers working on issues related to silica exposure and the development of health monitoring protocols. See: South Australia raises the bar in battle against silica and asbestos.

Saitama Class Action

Aug 17, 2026

A partial settlement worth ~568.1 million yen (US$3.6m) was reached on August 6, 2026 at the Saitama District Court between four Japanese manufacturers of asbestos-containing building products and claimants representing 41 individuals who were part of a class action brought on behalf of 90 injured construction workers. No settlement was reached for other victims, whose claims continue. Since the litigation first began, 13 claimants died. See: メーカーに損害賠償を求めたアスベスト訴訟、一部和解「今までに13人が亡くなった」 [Asbestos lawsuit seeking damages from manufacturers results in partial settlement: 13 people have died so far].

Remote Arctic Weather Station: Update

Aug 17, 2026

Earlier this month, it was announced that a remote and abandoned 20th century Arctic research and weather station within the territory of Nunavut, Canada would be remediated by agencies of the Canadian Government. Work to assess the level of contamination, which began in 2012 and cost $9 million, identified the presence of asbestos, lead, mercury and mold. The full-scale remediation will include eradication of the hazards with off-site disposals as well as demolition of derelict structures. See: Feds to clean up old Arctic weather station contaminated by asbestos, lead.

Conviction for Asbestos Dumping in NSW

Aug 14, 2026

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.