News Archive

Attempts by a regional officer from the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) and a scientist to assess the state of the Kalhara asbestos waste landfill, near Kymore, was complicated by logistical problems including the natural regrowth of vegetation on the dumpsite. The site visit was stimulated by the publicity surrounding the news that hundreds of new asbestos compensation cases had been filed with the T&N Asbestos Trust over toxic exposures created by operations at a Kymore asbestos factory. See: Kymore Asbestos Landfill Probe Exposes a Decade-Old Urban Health Gap.

Asbestos Waste, A National Problem

Oct 7, 2026

The September 29, 2026 article cited below was published in the Daily Mail. The author explained that even though the UK had “one of the highest rates of deaths from asbestos in the world,” the country lacked a standardized protocol for protecting people from potentially life-threatening exposures to toxic material found in their homes and in the environment. Some local authorities even allowed residents to dump domestic asbestos waste in landfill sites. Elsewhere, disposal of the waste was prohibitively expensive and fly-tipping was rife. See: Asbestos is a known killer, so why on earth are householders allowed to rip it out themselves – and drive it to their local recycling centre?.

Protecting Construction Workers

Oct 7, 2026

In a press release issued last month by Denmark’s Minister of Employment and Equality Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, it was announced that new regulations would mandate that as of 2027 employees on construction sites would have direct contact with asbestos analysts in order to ensure that the workers were correctly informed about levels of asbestos contamination at their workplaces. These changes were made as a result of a 2025 case where a building consultant had falsified the findings of asbestos tests at a construction site. See: Opgør med asbestfusk: Nye krav på vej [Dealing with asbestos fraud: New requirements on the way].

Asbestos Alert!

Oct 7, 2026

According to a report published on September 30, 2026 by the Association for Asbestos Victims of Quebec (AVAQ), the health of tenants of pre-2000 buildings in Quebec which are under renovation are being endangered by a lack of health and safety protections. According to AVAQ, none of Quebec's 15 largest municipalities require asbestos audits when building permits are issued for renovations. The report highlighted the exemplary practices of the authorities in Westmount – a city on the Island of Montreal – which mandated asbestos testing for buildings by a certified laboratory prior to the commencement of renovations. See: Les locataires québécois vulnérables à l’amiante [Quebec tenants vulnerable to asbestos].

Good News, Bad News

Oct 7, 2026

According to a new study by the Flemish Department of Health, the number of cases of asbestos-related cancer is finally decreasing. Nevertheless, “between 2004 and 2023, there were still twice as many diagnoses and deaths from mesothelioma per 100,000 inhabitants in the area with an asbestos history than outside the area, among both men and women.” Two hundred Flemish people are diagnosed every year with mesothelioma, the signature cancer associated with asbestos exposure. See: Dertig jaar na eerste waarschuwingen zien we nu eindelijk minder longvlieskanker in Vlaanderen [Thirty years after the first warnings, we are now finally seeing less pleural cancer in Flanders].

Addressing the Asbestos Challenge

Oct 7, 2026

The open access paper cited below was uploaded on September 29, 2026 to the website of the International Journal of Disaster Risk Science. The article introduced, what the South African authors claimed, was “a groundbreaking Risk-Governed Housing Remediation Framework, derived from South Africa’s Programme on Rectification of Pre-1994 Residential Properties.” The objective of the program was to draw various approaches and technical protocols together in order to formulate “a coordinated governance system.” See: From Prohibition to Protection: A Governance Framework for Asbestos Remediation in Vulnerable Settlements.

British Asbestos Legacy

Oct 5, 2026

A series of articles was published in India last month which revealed the deadly legacy of asbestos operations by the British conglomerate Turner & Newall in India. The articles dealt with the hazardous consequences of workplace as well as environmental exposures and highlighted the lack of preventative measures implemented by the company and the Government. See: School on Brit factory's premises at heart of asbestos exposure row.

‘Thousands diagnosed but govt has no health map': British giant's toxic legacy still ails MP's Kymore town.

Thousands in India developed cancer, lung disease after British company's asbestos dump.

Asbestos Upends Landmark’s Restoration

Oct 5, 2026

Plans to revamp the Montparnasse tower – the only skyscraper in central Paris – were rejected by stakeholders who were appalled at the €800 million (US$900m) bill for asbestos decontamination and other development work. The 210-meter 59-storey tower was opened in 1973, during a time when asbestos was widely used. As a result, there is extensive contamination of the structure which will require “a long and complex removal programme.” See: Future of Paris' Montparnasse Tower uncertain after planned revamp collapses.

UNEP Report: “Asbestos Emergency”

Oct 5, 2026

New information on the asbestos challenges faced by Ukraine published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) detailed “instances of unsafe dumping, worker and community exposure, and regulatory gaps.” There were no specialist asbestos remediation services for decontamination work and no hazardous-waste landfills for the dumping of toxic waste. Until Ukraine banned asbestos in 2023, asbestos-containing products were widely used for roofing, fencing, pipes and heating systems. See: Ukraine’s Asbestos Emergency: War Debris Poses Hazardous Waste Challenge.

Update from Toxic Kymore Factory

Oct 5, 2026

The Indian company which since 2003 has run the infamous asbestos-cement factory in Kymore formerly owned by the British asbestos company Turner & Newall and subsequently bought by the Belgian Eternit asbestos conglomerate, reported on September 28, 2026 that none of its employees had ever been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. When asked whether this was also the case for people living near the plant, the company said that it had no information on that matter. See: ‘No asbestos case among staff in 20 yrs, nearby areas never tested’.

Ending Toxic Exposures

Oct 5, 2026

It was announced on September 27, 2026, that the Cabinet of Fiji – the country’s executive governing body – had endorsed a partnership between the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Workplace Relations and Australia’s Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) to collaborate on measures to raise awareness of asbestos-related issues and progress increased protections. Pursuant to those objectives, a National Asbestos Profile will be prepared and existing regulations will be reviewed to “strengthen the country’s ability to identify and manage asbestos risks.” See: Government moves to strengthen asbestos safeguards.

Impact of STF Ruling for Goiás

Oct 5, 2026

The article cited below was on the website of ohoje.com, a news portal focused on developments in Goiânia and Goiás, Brazil. On September 18, 2026, the Supreme Court (STF) quashed a Goiás State law (2019) which allowed asbestos mining to continue in Minaçu despite a national ban (2017). Reporter João César Almeida discussed the ramifications of that ruling, highlighting the fears of “a chain reaction of economic contraction…” According to the Mayor of Minaçu, Carlos Leréia: “The city emerged through mining. Before mining, there was no city. So, the city is inextricably linked to the asbestos mine…” See: STF derruba lei que permitia exploração de amianto em Goiás e Minaçu enfrenta transição econômica [Supreme Court strikes down law allowing asbestos mining in Goiás, and Minaçu faces economic transition].

Two Families’ WA Tragedy

Oct 2, 2026

The article cited below described the experiences of European migrants who worked in Western Australia’s (WA) infamous asbestos mine at Wittenoom. Having left their homes in Spain in the 1960s, the families were attracted to the mine by the high wages being offered. The immigrants had no idea that the decision to work in the Pilbara would be life-changing as well as life-ending. More than 2,000 people died from toxic exposures experienced in Wittenoom; this included mine workers but also family members as well as public officials and civil servants. This story by journalist Mónica Ceberio Belaza is highly recommended. See: The Spaniards in ‘Australia's Chernobyl’.

Victims’ Verdict in Kyoto

Oct 2, 2026

On September 25, 2026, Presiding Judge Kazuo Kikui at the Kyoto District Court ordered 5 building materials manufacturers to pay approximately 129 million yen (~US$101,000) in damages for failing to prevent asbestos exposures at construction worksites. The successful 22 claimants included the injured, who contracted lung cancer and/or malignant pleural mesothelioma, as well as bereaved family members. See: 建設現場でアスベスト吸い肺がんなど発症…建材メーカー5社に1億2900万円支払い命令「この判決は貴重な礎」[Asbestos inhalation at construction sites led to lung cancer and other developments... Orders to pay 129 million yen to five building material manufacturers: “This ruling is a valuable foundation”].

Compensation as a Deterrent

Oct 2, 2026

On September 9, 2026, a Regional Labor Court in the Brazilian State of Rio de Janeiro agreed that higher compensation awards were required to encourage companies to invest in prevention and discourage potentially dangerous cost-cutting measures. The case under adjudication involved a worker, with no work-related disability, who had been employed at an asbestos cement factory where he was occupationally exposed to asbestos. He was awarded compensation of R$500,000 (US$96,500) for moral damages. See: Magistrados alertam para alta de doença laboral: “ninguém deve trabalhar para adoecer” [Judges warn of a rise in work-related illnesses: “no one should work to get sick”].

Municipal Scheme for Asbestos Waste

Oct 2, 2026

The widespread use of asbestos-containing products throughout France left behind a nightmare scenario where many householders and property owners were unable to afford to pay for the removal and disposal of the banned material. To avoid illegal fly-tipping, the Lorient Agglomération – an inter-municipal framework in the Brittany region – launched a new service to assist private individuals to dispose of 250 kg of asbestos waste per year free of charge. See: Face aux dépôts sauvages, cette collectivité lance un service de collecte de l’amiante [Faced with illegal dumping, this community is launching an asbestos collection service].

New Analytical Facility

Oct 2, 2026

It was announced last month that a new facility was opened in central Ukraine for asbestos testing of buildings and building waste. Before demolishing buildings or reusing building debris, laboratory personnel will “conduct sample testing using polarization microscopy in accordance with international ISO standards… The laboratory also conducts on-site sampling and accepts materials for testing from clients across Ukraine.” See: В Кривом Роге открыли лабораторию для проверки стройматериалов на асбест [A laboratory for testing building materials for asbestos has opened in Kryvyi Rih].

Construction Workers & Asbestos

Oct 2, 2026

Asbestos disease data just released by the Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft (BG Bau) – “the statutory accident insurance institution for the construction sector and related services in Germany” – recorded 291 confirmed deaths from mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis; there were also 2,304 deaths suspected to be from asbestos-related occupational diseases. As the vast majority of German buildings still contained asbestos, the BG Bau stressed the importance of asbestos audits prior to the commencement of construction projects. Around 1,600 people die in Germany every year from asbestos-related diseases. See BG Bau: Asbest ist die häufigste Todesursache auf Baustellen [BG Bau: Asbestos is the most frequent cause of death on construction sites].

Calling Time on the Silent Killer

Sep 30, 2026

The well-argued commentary cited below detailed initial steps taken in India – the world’s biggest asbestos user and importer – to curtail toxic exposures and recognize victims. Notwithstanding these token efforts, people continue to die from environmental as well as occupational exposures. The author of the text argued that by banning asbestos “India would protect its own workers and families, and it would show a continent that development does not have to be built under a carcinogenic roof. This would mark a significant win for Indian diplomacy as well.” See: The silent killer over India’s roofs: Why it's time to ban asbestos.

Asbestos Eradication at Parliament

Sep 30, 2026

On September 23, 2026, it was announced that a new eradication program would begin in January 2027 in the National Assembly – South Korea’s Parliament – to remove asbestos from the first floor of the main building. The sum of 846 million won (US$617,000) was allocated for the upcoming decontamination work. The specialist operatives will not remove the sprayed asbestos material applied to the ceiling during this phase of the program; previous investigations showed that it contained crocidolite (blue) asbestos. See: [단독] 국회, 내년 본관 1층 '석면' 제거 나선다 [[Exclusive] National Assembly to Remove Asbestos from the First Floor of the Main Building Next Year].

Supreme Court Bans Asbestos, Again

Sep 30, 2026

A news release by the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) explained its recent decision declaring a Goiás state law (2019) allowing asbestos mining to continue in contravention of a 2017 STF prohibition unconditional. In the notification it was reported that: “there are no safe levels of exposure to chrysotile asbestos, a mineral proven to be carcinogenic… [and] the Supreme Federal Court has several precedents prohibiting the extraction, industrialization, use, and commercialization of chrysotile asbestos throughout the national territory under any circumstances, including for export.” See: STF anula lei de Goiás que autorizava extração de amianto crisotila para exportação [Brazil's Supreme Court annuls Goiás state law authorizing the extraction of chrysotile asbestos for export].

Asbestos Scandal

Sep 30, 2026

It was reported on September 23, 2026 that Greenpeace Austria was calling on the Ministry of Education and the state school authorities to address growing public concerns regarding discoveries of asbestos contamination in the vicinity of 22 separate school premises in the east of the country. The asbestos was contained in gravel, asphalt, and grit used to pave streets and parking areas. Immediate action was needed, Greenpeace said, to protect children and school staff from potentially deadly exposures. See: „Könnte auch in Innenräume gelangt sein!“ : Asbest vor etlichen Kindergärten gemeldet [“Could also have entered indoor spaces!”: Asbestos reported in front of several kindergartens].

INSS Annual Review

Sep 30, 2026

On September 18, 2026, the Compensation Fund for Asbestos Victims marked its first anniversary. The statistics released to mark the occasion did not make pleasant reading: the majority of applications for assistance were denied by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), the body in charge of administering the scheme. Of the 474 applications received, the INSS rejected 344, 72%. The value of the successful claims was €6,344,794 euros (US$7.3m), approximately a quarter of the €25 million allocated for the year. See: Seven out of ten asbestos compensation claims are rejected.

Legal Update from Brasilia

Sep 30, 2026

The commentary cited below by a Brazilian lawyer involved in Supreme Court (STF) litigation over the unconstitutionality of a state asbestos exemption, analyzed the September 18, 2026 STF verdict which quashed the exemption. According to lawyer Milena Pinheiro: “there is no longer any pretext for continuing the mining activity, the extraction, packaging, and export of this material.” Although no date was given by the Court for the closure of the asbestos mine, Milena said “there would be no reason for a further extension of the deadline granted to the company.” See: “Não existe mais pretexto”: advogada defende fim da exploração de amianto em Goiás [“There is no more excuse”: lawyer argues for an end to asbestos mining in Goiás].

New Gravel Regulations for Quarries

Sep 28, 2026

Protocols adopted on August 3, 2026 by the French Government will prevent the use of asbestos-contaminated gravel sourced from alluvial quarries. Previously, restrictions only applied to 16 quarries; the expanded list of regulated sites names 226 quarries with 60 classified as priority. The high-risk quarries must be assessed by August 2027. The reason given for the new rules was to prevent the use of gravel extracted from riverbeds which contained asbestos fibers. See: France extends asbestos screening protocol to 226 alluvial quarries.