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Recent reports from Portugal revealed that asbestos-containing material was still present in ~1,400 public buildings, including schools, hospitals and military facilities. Asbestos was present in many homes built in Portugal before the 2005 ban was introduced; this contamination negatively affects property sales to foreign investors. According to the Natasha Donn, the author of the text cited below: “Anyone purchasing an older Portuguese property is advised to include checks for potentially hazardous materials before carrying out major renovation work.” See: Banned asbestos still found in almost 1,400 public buildings across Portugal.

Like many other countries, the long-tail asbestos legacy in Germany continues to claim lives decades after strict prohibitions were introduced. According to the article cited below: “Asbestos caused 65% of Germany's 1,900 occupational deaths in 2024….The figures underscore a persistent workplace safety challenge that resurfaces every time aging infrastructure undergoes renovation.” The presence of deteriorating asbestos material within the national infrastructure remains an ongoing challenge for administrators and workers. See: Asbestos Legacy Lingers: 65% of German Occupational Deaths Linked to Banned Material as Railway Faces Years-Long Cleanup.

According to information disclosed by Belgian MP Foud Ahidar on June 11, 2026, 1,062 school buildings in the Brussels Region were contaminated with asbestos as per the last audit carried out in 2017. The controversial politician obtained this information from the office of the State Secretary for the Environment and Climate Ans Persoons; asked about more recent information, the Secretary of State told Parliament that the Brussels Region did not have an updated asbestos census of Brussels schools. See: “Une situation particulièrement préoccupante”: Plus de 1.000 bâtiments scolaires bruxellois contiendraient encore de l'amiante [“A particularly worrying situation”: More than 1,000 school buildings in Brussels are believed to still contain asbestos].

Last week, a Los Angeles jury convicted Johnson & Johnson (J&J) of negligence over the mesothelioma death in 2024 of Maria Lozano. The company was ordered to pay compensation of $32 million to her family. From the early 1970s, the deceased had been a regular user of J&J’s asbestos-contaminated talc-based baby powder. The family’s lawyer alleged that “the company failed to adequately warn consumers about the dangers associated with asbestos-contaminated talc despite longstanding knowledge of the risks.” The jury agreed. See: Johnson & Johnson Hit with $32 Million Verdict in Los Angeles Asbestos Trial.

Last week, the authorities in Sunchang County in North Jeolla Province, South Korea announced that funds for the removal, replacement and disposal of asbestos roofing from 400 buildings including private homes and non-domestic structures had been allocated for this financial year. Applications must be submitted by October 2026 and subsidies of up to 10 million won (US$ 6,600) per household were available, although vulnerable groups can receive full support. See: “올핸 폐슬레이트 수거의 해”...순창군 “석면없애 건강한 우리집을”[“This Year is the Year of Waste Slate Collection”... Sunchang County: “Remove Asbestos for a Healthy Home”].

According to a paper published on June 11, 2026 on the website of the Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, “mesothelioma deaths and diagnoses continue to rise in the United States despite decades of asbestos regulation and reduced industrial use…” The incidence of this cancer varied across the country and in 18+ states there was an increase in female incidence and mortality. Unfortunately, survival rates remain low. The states which were the worst affected were those with shipbuilding, mining and high legacy asbestos exposures. According to co-lead author Kyle Edwards “mesothelioma remains a substantial public health problem.” See: Geographic, Temporal, and Sex-Specific Trends in Mesothelioma Burden in the United States, 1990–2023.

MPs attending a plenary session this month (June 2026) of the Parliament of Catalonia will consider draft legislation calling for the eradication of the asbestos hazard from the built environment throughout the territory, home to 8 million people. If adopted, the law will: unify fragmented local regulations, ensuring uniform, safe removal processes in 947 Catalan municipalities; will set a 2028 deadline for the decontamination of all public buildings; and a 2030 deadline for asbestos removal from all structures. See: The Parliament will submit to a vote next week the law to eliminate asbestos in Catalonia.

From June 11 to 23, 2026, staff from the Asbestos Environmental Health Center of the Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital will conduct a health impact survey on residents from towns near abandoned asbestos mines in Boryeong and Cheongyang. Participants will complete questionnaires, receive medical check-ups, have chest X-rays and speak to specialist consultants. If there are any worrying findings, further examinations will be held and more sophisticated medical tests will be carried out. See: 보령·청양 폐석면광산 인근주민 석면건강영향조사 실시 [Asbestos Health Impact Survey Conducted on Residents Near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in Boryeong and Cheongyang].

The cost for the removal of asbestos from three former Scottish high schools will run into millions of pounds, according to a statement released on June 9, 2026 by the Scottish Borders Council. Commenting on the news, Council Director John Curry said: “For Galashiels I think the figure for asbestos removal is £1.6m and for Peebles it is around the same amount, with £1m alone for the dining hall and assembly hall, and that’s largely down to the nature of the asbestos and how it was encapsulated in the building, and the way we needed to remove that and demolish it safely.” See: Borders Council face millions of pounds bill for school asbestos removal.

On May 29, 2026, Portugal’s Decree-Law No. 109/2026 transposed into national law the European Directive 2023/2668. The purpose of these pieces of legislation was to “strengthen the protection of workers against occupational risks of asbestos exposure.” According to one Portuguese commentator the new law “marks a new stage in the management of asbestos risk in Portugal.” Its core provisions included: lowering allowable exposure limits, mandating specialized training for workers in the demolition or removal sectors, establishing occupational health surveillance schemes and setting standards for the use of up-to-date equipment. See: Decreto-Lei n.º 109/2026, de 29 de maio.

An article published on June 10, 2026 reported news of a legal victory for a non-commissioned officer from Italy’s Air Force who had served his country from 1984 until 2022. In his ruling, Labor Judge Giuseppe Grosso from the Grosseto Court ordered the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to pay compensation to the former maintenance technician who contracted lung cancer as a result of workplace asbestos exposures experienced during his military service. In addition to economic and welfare benefits, the MoD was ordered to pay the costs of the technical consultancy and part of the legal costs incurred by the applicant. See: Grosseto, l’amianto gli provoca un tumore: ex militare vince contro lo Stato [Grosseto, former military man with asbestos-caused cancer wins against the State].

On June 11, 2026, the UK’s Office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a recall for toxic doorstops exported from China which were found to be contaminated with asbestos. The items, in the shape of seasonal characters such as Rowan the Robin for Christmas and a pumpkin for Halloween, had been sold at Dunelm stores from November 2024 onwards. According to the OPSS: “The products present a risk to health as the sand inside the doorstops may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos.” Other Dunelm doorstops were recalled for the same reason on May 7, 2026; they had been on sale in Dunelm stores between January 2019 and February 2026. See: Product Recall: Dunelm Seasonal Doorstops (2606-0136).

The timely article cited below reviewed findings recently published by Australian and UK scientists about medical research regarding the long-term health effects of asbestos exposures. A study by a team at Australia’s Curtin University, which was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, showed that “current lung cancer screening efforts often overlook people exposed to asbestos. This gap puts many at risk of late diagnoses and poorer outcomes.” New lung cancer data substantiated claims that the number of asbestos-related lung cancer deaths had been “greatly” underestimated in the UK. See: International research surge highlights asbestos health crisis.

A court in Lecce awarded ~€700,000 (US$810,000) compensation to the children of a member of the Italian Navy who died in 2019 from pleural mesothelioma due to workplace asbestos exposures. The deceased had worked as a toolmaker at La Spezia, one of Italy’s most historic and important naval bases. The compensation was paid by the Ministry of Defense. See: Militare morto a causa dell’amianto, maxi risarcimento dal ministero della Difesa [Soldier killed by asbestos, huge compensation from the Ministry of Defense].

On June 8, 2026, the UK’s office of Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a recall for KTL Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit. According to the OPSS: “The product presents a risk to health as the sand inside the kit may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos.” The Sand Art Kit was exported from China and was sold in the UK under the brand name: KTL (formerly Kandy Toys). Other items marketed under this brand name were previously recalled. See: Product Recall: KTL Glitter and Glow Magical Sand Art Kit (2606-0116).

A claim for €378,452 (US$437,600) in damages against multiple defendants was lodged on June 8, 2026 with the Court of Donostia/San Sebastián in the Basque Country. The lawsuit alleged that the defendant companies – Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) [Construction & Other Railway Services], Azpeitia Hermanos, Montajes Nadur, Iberica de frio, Plasticos ABC Spain, Onena bolsas de papel, and Volkswagen Navarra had failed “to comply with safety regulations regarding asbestos…” As a result of these failures, Honorio B. died from the signature cancer associated with asbestos exposure: pleural mesothelioma. See: CAF and other companies sued for 378,452 euros over former employee's asbestos-related death.

IBAS is delighted to be hosting the English translation of a Portuguese language editorial uploaded last week (see: Associação Brasileira dos Expostos ao Amianto: 30 anos de luta pelos direitos dos trabalhadores) to the website of the Brazilian Journal of Occupational Health. Permission to do so was granted by coauthor Leila Posenato Garcia. Reflecting on the importance of the work accomplished since 1995 by the Brazilian Association of Asbestos Exposed Workers (ABREA), the authors recognized that “ABREA’s trajectory is intertwined with the construction of the Occupational Health field in Brazil.” [Read full article]

IBAS is privileged to upload this article by K. Ambroise Troveh, a specialist in transmission electron microscopy and hazardous fiber analysis. This feature highlighted the gap in African countries between the “promulgation of prohibitive texts and the very limited enforcement and monitoring mechanisms on the ground.” As nations in the Global North banned asbestos use, manufacturers targeted African markets in countries “under severe budgetary constraints.” Low levels of public asbestos awareness and lack of technical capacity and epidemiological data deterred governments from addressing asbestos challenges. Organizations such as the pan-African OHS Africa Foundation and the Inter-African Committee of Asbestos Experts are working assiduously to remedy this situation. [Read full article]

A recent investigation by a network of concerned citizens revealed that a toy found to be carcinogenic by multiple national authorities and media outlets was being sold via online marketplaces in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin and North America. Considering the sophisticated communications of e-commerce platforms in 2026, it is beyond belief that retailers such as Ozon in Eastern Europe, Amazon India, Rozetka in Ukraine and educational toy specialists like GoodDo Bangladesh and Fangotoys Ecuador were unaware of the evidence documenting the very real health hazard posed by the use of the toxic toy: WordPad. Until there are strict regulations of global e-commerce marketplaces and meaningful punishments for transgressors, none of our children will be safe. [Read full article]

On May 27, 2026, a grassroots coalition representing asbestos victims, environmental, consumer and health activists from around the world bestowed the IBAS Award 2026 for Outstanding Grassroots Activism on the “Asbestos. Not Here. Not Anywhere” campaign. This groundbreaking initiative was spearheaded by Australia’s Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA. Citing the leadership and organizational skills of APHEDA personnel, the award also recognized the expertise and support of Australian and international collaborators which were pivotal to the substantive results achieved in key asbestos-consuming countries. [Read full article]

On May 21, 2026, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall for models 17451 and 41929 of Orb Funkee Squeeze Toys, which had been imported from Canada and manufactured in China: “The recalled Orb Funkee squeeze toys may contain fibrous tremolite (asbestos) in the sand, which can cause adverse health issues if inhaled.” The same two models had been recalled due to asbestos contamination in the UK on March 6 along with five other models sold by the same company. Given that the US toy market is the world’s biggest customer for Chinese toy exports, it is unlikely that the recall issued on May 21st will be the last. [Read full article]

Whilst residents, and both municipal and provincial politicians, continued to struggle with hundreds of asbestos incidents in Western Hungary, 2,500 miles away festivities were held to celebrate the asbestos industry in Russian mining towns. At the same time as Hungarian police were investigating the discovery of asbestos-contaminated crushed stone on streets in the city of Szombathely, in the Russian municipalities of Asbestos and Yasny officials, asbestos workers and local people were commemorating International Chrysotile Protection Day and denouncing “the fierce anti-asbestos campaign…” threatening their industry. [Read full article]

When it comes to asbestos, I have learned that nothing is ever straightforward. For that reason it pays to closely investigate the facts as they are presented. Earlier this week, I happened to chance upon a document uploaded in February 2026 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) which showed stunning decreases in global asbestos output in 2024 & 2025 as well as a rapid decline in Russian asbestos production levels. As Russia has for decades been the world’s largest asbestos supplier, the data was both pertinent and encouraging. Unfortunately, the reality was slightly different to that suggested by the data. [Read full article]

In an open letter to UK Minister Kate Dearden which was uploaded today (May 1), representatives of UK asbestos victim support groups, campaigning organizations and asbestos cancer charities expressed concern about government delays in addressing the health hazard posed by the import of sand, playsets and stretchy toys contaminated with asbestos. News of a recent EU trade mission to China to discuss the need to remove “dangerous toys from the market before they reach children…” was reported. “In 2026, there is,” the letter concluded “no excuse for the sale of carcinogenic children’s toys in the UK.” [Read full article]

On April 15, 2026, the Asbestos Sub-Group of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health held a two-hour event entitled Asbestos: Protecting Tomorrow’s Victims, Protecting Today’s Patients in the House of Commons. Each of the presentations constituted a vital part in creating a panorama of ongoing national asbestos challenges. From the lived experiences of a mesothelioma sufferer, to the legal torture of securing compensation, to the battle for timely and state-of-the-art medical care, to the solutions for eradicating the asbestos hazard, each subject was succinctly, straightforwardly and sympathetically explained. [Read full article]

The fallout from the import of asbestos-contaminated toys from China continues, with a huge range of responses from national regulators. While some acted promptly to protect children, others remained in denial about the hazard. Oversight protocols introduced prior to the explosion of e-commerce trade via online marketplaces were blamed for the loopholes through which dangerous items were allowed to enter retail product streams. Earlier this month, an EU delegation to China discussed what needs to be done “to ensure companies are held accountable when rules are not followed.” [Read full article]

On April 2, 2026 a news release was featured on the website of the Building and Wood Workers’ International which expressed the serious concerns of dozens of civil society groups about foreign intervention in the democratic process to derail well-established plans to end asbestos import and use in Malaysia. The global mouthpiece representing asbestos vested interests – the International Chrysotile Association (ICA) – was accused of “once again attempting to hijack our national policy” and subvert work to implement national prohibitions. “Banning asbestos is,” the text said “fundamentally a matter of national interest… Our fate and our health must be decided by Malaysians, for Malaysians. Leave no room for the asbestos industry to dictate our future.” [Read full article]

On April 2, 2026, 300 delegates convened in Cambodia’s capital for a government-sponsored consultation to examine the country’s strategy for implementing asbestos prohibitions. Central to the discussions was a 60-page publication launched at the meeting: the Economic Impact Assessment Related to the Use of Asbestos (EIA). To this end, one of the EIA’s authors was in attendance to answer questions. The Executive Summary of the EIA was uncompromising in its findings: “The economic assessment of a proposed ban on asbestos containing materials and raw asbestos fibres was found to be economically viable, with the health benefits from avoided disease far outweighing the cost of implementation and transition by a ratio of 4:1, even under conservative assumptions.” [Read full article]

A timely and informative article by Merlin Chowkwanyun, PhD, MPH from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City has been reproduced on this website with the author’s blessing. The text reported a rare retraction by The Lancet, “one of the oldest and most prestigious academic journals,” of an unsigned 1997 commentary that discounted the hazard posed by the use of personal hygiene products contaminated with asbestos. The disavowal of the commentary resulted from a discovery made by American researchers – Gerald Markowitz and David Rosner – who were able to provide evidence showing that the contentious text had been written by a consultant paid by Johnson & Johnson, who had shared the draft with company officials and made changes based on their comments. [Read full article]

On January 23 2026, the Canadian government uploaded a 64-page document entitled: Draft Guidance on Asbestos in Drinking Water at the start of a 60-day public consultation process. Interested stakeholders were invited to submit comments before March 24, 2026. The joint submission by Prevent Cancer Now, Canadian Environmental Law Association and Friends of the Earth Canada is informative not only about the current situation in Canada but also has implications for people in many other jurisdictions who are dealing with the adverse fallout from the continuing use of deteriorating asbestos-cement water pipes. We are very grateful for the permission received to upload this document. [Read full article]

For the first time since 1950, annual global asbestos production fell to less than a million tonnes in 2024. This was not a blip, as the low level of production was repeated the following year. Dwindling global output generates less money for propaganda campaigns, international love-ins and aggressive political lobbying by asbestos stakeholders. Industry-funded bodies, such as the International Chrysotile Association, are hanging on by their fingertips; many of these industry fronts have been dissolved or disappeared. The simple chart featured in this article is an accurate and useful depiction of the truth denied by vested interests: the asbestos industry is terminal. The sooner the plug is pulled, the better. [Read full article]

Like pretty much every other country, Britain has a lethal asbestos legacy which continues to endanger the lives of its citizens. Our public buildings, water delivery systems and homes were not only built with asbestos but also currently contain articles contaminated by it such as imported children’s toys, hygiene products and make-up sets. Whilst some of the consequences of toxic exposures have been quantified, others remain unrecognized and unacknowledged. The hazard posed by children playing with craft and play-sand sets and stretchy rubber figures that contain chrysotile and/or tremolite asbestos fibers is extremely concerning. [Read full article]

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Demonstration in Woluwe Park, Brussels, 2006

Under cloudy skies, members of Belgian and French Asbestos Victims' Associations from Dunkirk and Bourgogne marched side-by-side in the third annual demonstration organized by ABEVA, the Belgian Association of Asbestos Victims. Erik Jonckheere, ABEVA's Co-chairman, condemned the government which still refuses to recognize the plight of the asbestos injured.

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