News Archive

Last week, New Zealand’s firefighters’ union reported that asbestos had been found in an air tank used by members of the emergency services. The supply tank had “tested positive for a ‘very small level’ of asbestos,” during investigations undertaken in Auckland. According to an online statement from the Professional Firefighters’ Union: “This news will be very distressing for many firefighters who now have the uncertainty of the safety of their Bas (breathing apparatus) potentially filled using this sample bulk air tank prior to 2023.” See: Asbestos found in breathing equipment 'distressing' for firefighters, union says.

Good News, Bad News

Nov 17, 2025

Commenting on disappointing financial news, Zimbabwe’s largest asbestos-cement building products’ manufacturer, Turnall Holdings, announced that it was planning to transition some of the manufacturing capacity at its Bulawayo plant to asbestos-free technology. According to Turnall’s Chairman Grenville Hampshire, a return to profit will be achieved by streamlining asbestos production processes and introducing a range of asbestos-free building products. See: Turnall Holdings optimistic of breakeven after major loss.

Calls for Cancer Screening in Scotland

Nov 17, 2025

As cancer experts, policymakers, patients and charities gathered at a meeting held at the Scottish Cancer Conference in Glasgow earlier this month, campaigners called on the Scottish government to “immediately roll out a targeted lung-cancer screening programme in a bid to diagnose cases earlier and improve survival rates for sufferers.” Currently, the majority of Scottish people with lung cancer were diagnosed at a later stage when treatment options were limited. As lung cancer screening for at-risk groups is being introduced in England, Scottish groups are calling on the Holyrood Government to also make this a priority. See: Campaigners demand critical national lung-cancer screening programme for lung cancer in Scotland.

Compulsory Asbestos Audits

Nov 17, 2025

On November 6, 2025, the Government of Wallonia announced plans to adopt a system currently operational in Flanders, another Belgian region, whereby an asbestos inventory will be mandatory for any property sale, rental or renovation work; property owners will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the new measures. These measures will, said the Minister of Environment and Health Yves Coppieters help facilitate the “sustainable control of asbestos-related risks in Wallonia.” Although asbestos use was banned decades ago, asbestos-containing materials remain throughout the region’s infrastructure. See: Un inventaire amiante bientôt obligatoire en Wallonie [Asbestos inventory to soon be mandatory in Wallonia].

Victim’s Verdict in Adelaide

Nov 17, 2025

A recent verdict by Tribunal Deputy President Judge Mark Calligeros of South Australia's Employment Tribunal awarded A$2.26 million (US$1.5m) in damages to a 61-year mesothelioma victim who was exposed to asbestos whilst employed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as an electrician in 1991. The damages were awarded against the State of South Australia (80%) and the current incarnation of the James Hardie Company, Amaca (20%). See: Former RAH electrician to receive $2.26 million asbestos cancer damages claim.

Asbestos at Hospital

Nov 17, 2025

Confirming the link between occupational asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, a court in Rome issued a victim’s verdict for the family of a mesothelioma patient who died in 2009 after having been exposed to asbestos whilst employed at the Anzio Military Hospital. The Ministry of Defense was ordered to pay €750,000 (US$870,000) in damages to the family of the deceased for having failed to implement precautions to prevent workplace asbestos exposures. See: Amianto nel Policlinico Militare di Anzio: nuova condanna del Tribunale di Roma al Ministero della Difesa [Asbestos at the Anzio Military Hospital: Rome Court Responds to Ministry of Defense].

Supporting NI Mesothelioma Patients

Nov 13, 2025

A new service to support mesothelioma patients in Northern Ireland (NI) – the Northern Ireland Regional Mesothelioma Service – will improve access to specialist support. This collaborative initiative is a result of a partnership between Mesothelioma UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, local clinicians, and the family of Tony Rodgers who died from mesothelioma in Newry, Co Down on January 1, 2022. The care will be provided across NI by nurses Stephanie Todd and Carol Johnston based at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. See: New cancer service launches to support mesothelioma patients in Northern Ireland.

New Mesothelioma Data

Nov 13, 2025

A paper uploaded to the website of the International Journal of Epidemiology a fortnight ago which analyzed mesothelioma mortality data from 1998-2022, reported that over that period 5,472 people had died from mesothelioma. Among the deceased, the majority (67%) were males; age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) rose from 2.53 per million in 1998 to 3.46 per million in 2022; and higher ASMR rates were found in the northern states and in central Mexico. Given the data, the researchers recommended a complete asbestos ban be implemented in Mexico. See: Geographic analysis and trends in mortality from mesothelioma in Mexico 1998–2022.

Asbestos Conviction in the Capital

Nov 13, 2025

A court in Canberra, Australia found that a company owned by Benjamin Hannaford had neglected to implement “available and feasible” precautionary measures when removing asbestos roofing from a garden shed and transporting and storing it. Magistrate Ian Temby imposed an $8,000 fine, a two-year Good Behaviour Order, and 100 hours of community service to be carried out within 2 years. Commenting on this case, WorkSafe ACT Commissioner Jacqueline Agius said: “This incident is yet another troubling example of a trader taking dangerous shortcuts in a high-risk situation, showing a blatant disregard for legal obligations and the safety of people in our community.” See: Tradie fined for exposing workers, public to ‘notorious’ asbestos risks.

Uplift in Victims’ Support

Nov 13, 2025

Earlier this month, Switzerland’s Federal Council voted to adopt an amendment to the Accident Insurance Act that will come into force on 1 January 2026 and will allow the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) to support the Asbestos Victims Fund (EFA) “from surplus income from occupational accident and disease insurance.” Pursuant to the amendment, SUVA will contribute surplus income to the EFA. The details of the final arrangements will be decided by the SUVA Board. See: CF: da 2026 Suva potrà finanziare Fondo per le vittime amianto [CF: From 2026, Suva will be able to finance the Asbestos Victims’ Fund].

Asbestos Exposé

Nov 13, 2025

A recent analysis of material found in a public park in the Cheonggyecheon area of Seoul, Korea identified several pieces of roofing fragments containing asbestos, a substance banned by the government in 2009. South Korea has an ambitious regime for the removal of asbestos-containing products from the built environment and prioritized eradication work at schools and educational institutions. See: 단독 청계천 곳곳서 석면 슬레이트 조각 발견...서울시 조사 [Asbestos slate fragments discovered throughout Cheonggyecheon...Seoul City investigates].

Asbestos in Schools

Nov 13, 2025

Trade unions representing teachers called on the Government to prioritize the removal of asbestos-containing products from schools as they have the remediation of structures containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). According to Wayne Bates, from the Teachers’ Union NASUWT, asbestos in schools was a “ticking time bomb” and children and teachers were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Whereas, the emergency posed by the presence of RAAC in schools was dealt with quickly, asbestos contamination is allowed to fester. See: Government must follow RAAC action by tackling asbestos in schools, unions say.

Asbestos Outreach Project

Nov 10, 2025

An asbestos workshop was held by the Local Initiative for Occupational Safety in Bandung, West Java on October 23, 2025. Speakers at the meeting highlighted the pro-asbestos climate that existed in Indonesia, such as the lack of any taxes on asbestos imports, which encouraged consumers to continue using this acknowledged carcinogen. See: ANOMALI KARSINOGENIK: Mengapa Biaya Impor Asbes Krisotil Nol Persen, Penyebab Kanker Namun Tanpa Label Maut? [CARCINOGENIC ANOMALY: Why is Chrysotile Asbestos, a Cause of Cancer, Imported at Zero Percent and Without a Hazard Warning Label?].

More Calls for Asbestos Ban

Nov 10, 2025

A paper written by researchers from China, Germany and the Czech Republic uploaded to the website of the Environmental Health Journal on October 30, 2025 was categorical about the urgent need for asbestos prohibitions: “We found,” the authors concluded “that a complete ban on asbestos with a lag time of 25 years could effectively reduce lung cancer incidence along with asbestos-related deaths and DALYs [disability-adjusted life-years]. These findings underscore the urgent need for a complete ban on asbestos (especially chrysotile).” See: Global burden of lung cancer attributable to occupational asbestos exposure: 1990 to 2021.

Two Cancers, Two Outcomes.

Nov 10, 2025

The article cited below by specialist solicitor Daniel Easton, of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers, highlighted the legal anomaly which existed between two categories of dying asbestos cancer victims. Whilst people who contract the signature asbestos cancer mesothelioma are able to pursue legal claims and/or claim government lump sum payments/benefits, those who contract asbestos-related lung cancer are not. “The same support is needed, and needed quickly,” wrote Easton, “for sufferers of asbestos-related lung cancer” as is accessible for mesothelioma claimants. See: It is time to end the lottery of asbestos compensation.

Victim’s Victory!

Nov 10, 2025

At the end of last month, the Court of Nola, in Naples, Italy awarded over €1 million (US$1.2m) to the family of an electrician whose 2017 death from pleural mesothelioma had been caused by workplace asbestos exposures. The deceased’s employers Nuova Sacelit srl and Italcementi spa were ordered to pay the compensation as they had failed to implement measures to minimize toxic exposures at the Sacelit plant in Volla, just outside Naples. See: Morte da amianto, il Tribunale di Nola condanna due aziende: oltre un milione di euro ai familiari di un elettricista morto per mesothelioma [Asbestos-related death: Nola Court sentences two companies; over €1 million awarded to the family of an electrician who died of mesothelioma].

Consumer Outreach: Toxic Roofing

Nov 10, 2025

The article cited below contained a timely warning to consumers in Indonesia of the hazards posed by buying asbestos-cement roofing, a popular choice for domestic properties. The author of the text explained how the invisible fibers in asbestos once liberated can cause chronic respiratory problems, cancer and asbestosis. Because of the human health hazard posed by exposure to asbestos in workplaces and buildings, many countries have banned its use although it remains legal in Indonesia. See: Asbestosis hingga Kanker Paru-paru, 6 Bahaya Asbes untuk Atap Rumah yang Harus Anda Ketahui dan Waspadai [Asbestosis to Lung Cancer, 6 Asbestos Hazards for Home Roofs You Should Know and be Aware of].

Mexican Asbestos Documentary

Nov 10, 2025

A new documentary from Mexico was premiered in São Paulo by the Brazilian Association of the Asbestos-Exposed (ABREA) at 10 a.m. on November 8, 2025 at the headquarters of the Osasco Trade Union. The film tells the story of people who worked for the asbestos-cement building products’ company Asbestos of Mexico in San Pedro Barrientos. Although operations ceased 35 years ago, former workers and local people are continuing to die from occupational and environmental asbestos exposures. The film was shown with Portuguese subtitles. See: Tepemaxalco: Colina que embala com o vento. (Documentário, 2025) | Trailer Oficial | ABREA [Tepemaxalco: A Hill That Rocks with the Wind. (Documentary, 2025) | Official Trailer | ABREA].

Asbestos Phase-Out in Schools

Nov 6, 2025

On October 30, 2025 India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) – a “specialized judicial body… to handle and expedite legal cases related to environmental protection and the conservation of natural resources – ordered that measures be implemented to reduce health risks and prepare for a gradual transition to asbestos-free materials in schools. The Court acknowledged the medical evidence which showed that exposures to asbestos caused cancer and stated that the use of asbestos in schools was grounds for “health and environmental concerns.” See: NGT stops short of banning asbestos roofs in schools; orders strict safety norms, gradual phase-out.

Asbestos Waste Removal in Sichuan

Nov 6, 2025

The area around abandoned asbestos mines in Sichuan, China has been rehabilitated, as part of an environmental project to widen the ecological corridor for Giant Pandas. The expansion of the Giant Panda National Park was possible after the rehabilitation of 245.22 hectares of contaminated land on which 41.958 million cubic meters of asbestos tailings were deposited. This toxic waste was created by operations at asbestos mines over several decades. See: 四川雅安废弃矿区的“新生”：智慧修复构筑生态走廊 [The “Rebirth” of Abandoned Mining Areas in Ya'an, Sichuan: Smart Restoration Builds an Ecological Corridor].

Asbestos Eradication Program

Nov 6, 2025

According to the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), the national program to remove asbestos roofing from public and private buildings has entered its final stage. The eradication work began in 2009 and, to date, has reduced the amount of asbestos roofing in place from 1.69 million square meters to 51,000 square meters. RHA spokesman Yusuf Sindiheba told journalists last week that: “By February 2026, we expect to have removed all remaining asbestos materials from government and public buildings.” See: Effort to eradicate asbestos roofing nears completion.

Concerns over White House Reconstruction

Nov 6, 2025

The article cited below described ongoing efforts by Democratic senators and public health advocates to clarify health and safety protocols put in place by the White House and its contractors to safeguard workers and members of the public from deadly exposures to asbestos, a substance which is believed to have been used in the construction of the East Wing. In a letter signed by three high-ranking US senators, the President was asked for information about the demolition work plan, the identity of the donors funding the project and details of the asbestos and lead paint abatement plans. See: Senators, advocates demand explanation on asbestos risks from East Wing.

Call for Action by APEC

Nov 6, 2025

On October 31, 2025, members of a coalition of civil society groups held a press conference – entitled A Wish for APEC – outside the building where international leaders and advisors were taking part in meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Gyeongju, South Korea. The campaigners demanded an end to the dumping of Fukushima nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, a solution to the climate crisis, and an end to the use of asbestos throughout the Asia-Pacific region. See: [20251031] APEC에 바란다 - 경주 캠페인 현장사진 [[20251031] A Wish for APEC - Gyeongju Campaign Site Report].

Moby Drea: Update

Nov 6, 2025

The asbestos-laden Italian ferry, the Moby Drea, which was deported from Croatia will now be allowed to stay in Taranto, Italy while asbestos removal work is carried out by the specialized company Ecologica. It is believed that 100 tonnes of asbestos are contained in the wall partitions in the ship’s cabins. The vessel is now owned by the Italian company: Med Fuel Bunkering which obtained authorization from the Port System Authority of the Ionian Sea for the remediation work to be carried out. See: Dopo oltre un mese sbloccata situazione nave Drea a Taranto: concessa banchina per bonifica dall'amianto a bordo [After more than a month, the situation of the Drea ship in Taranto has been unblocked: a quay has been allocated for removal of the asbestos on board].

Stalemate at Court!

Nov 3, 2025

The October 28, 2025 blog by Fernanda Giannasi cited below reported the latest disappointing development at Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) which has, yet again, postponed the decision on a case regarding the unconstitutionality of a State law contravening the 2017 national asbestos ban ordered by the Court. On October 27, 2025 STF Justice André Mendonça declined to cast his ballot in the legal action and claimed that an additional review of the facts was needed. Five votes have already upheld the illegality of the Goiás State exemption which allowed asbestos mining to continue despite the STF ban. See: Amianto: André Mendonça pede vistas e atrasa processo pelo banimento, por Fernanda Giannasi [Asbestos: André Mendonça requests review and delays ban process, by Fernanda Giannasi].