International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

IBAS Blog by Laurie Kazan-Allen

Last updated August 25, 2026: all blog pages going back to November, 2011 can be accessed from the link.

Recent News Items (Sep 3, 2026)

Road Aggregate Concerns Acknowledged (Sep 3, 2026, Hungary)

The August 28, 2026 article cited below revealed that an Open Letter by international health and safety campaigners which had been ignored by the media in Hungary had been acknowledged by the European Commission on behalf of its President Ursula von der Leyen. The global activists had expressed concerns regarding widespread asbestos contamination in western Hungary caused by the use of toxic aggregates from Austrian mines for the construction of road surfaces in Szombathely and surrounding towns. See: EU Acknowledges Concerns Over Asbestos Contamination.

Precedent Set in Tokyo Court (Sep 3, 2026, Japan)

On August 27, 2026, Presiding Judge Sonoe Taniguchi of the Tokyo High Court rejected an appeal from the Japanese Government and ruled that “the statute of limitations should be calculated from the time of death, not from the onset of symptoms.” The government was ordered to pay 13 million yen (US$81,200) compensation to the family of an insulation worker who died in 2004 from mesothelioma. See: アスベスト被害で高裁が初判断時効の起算点は中皮腫での「死亡時 [High Court Issues First Ruling on Asbestos-Related Harm: Statute of Limitations Starts from “Time of Death” in mesothelioma cases].

Asbestos Town Pivot to Rare Earths (Sep 3, 2026, Brazil)

The economic life of the mining town of Minaçu, in the Brazilian State of Goiás has been linked to asbestos mining for decades. With the 2017 decision of the Supreme Court banning the commercial exploitation of asbestos, the town and industry were living on borrowed time. For now, the industry survives by mining, under a State exemption, for export purposes only. Exploration and development work on the mining of rare earth minerals in Minaçu could portend the cessation of asbestos mining, once and for all. See: Terras raras: saiba como cidade goiana saiu da exploração de amianto para o centro da disputa internacional de minérios [Rare earths: learn how a city in Goiás went from asbestos mining to the center of the international mineral dispute].

New Asbestos Recall for Toxic Toy (Sept 3, 2026, Belgium)

On August 27, 2026, the European Commission’s Safety Gate Alert scheme issued a notification recalling a Brainboom Stretchmonster stretchy sand-filled plastic wolf figure. The turquoise toy was made in China and has been recalled because: “The toy can easily rupture and the filling of the inside could come out. The sand inside contains asbestos (measured value up to 5% by weight). Asbestos could cause cancer.” So far this year, this scheme has issued dozens of alerts for asbestos-contaminated toys and play sand products. See: Alert number: SR/02368/26 – Brainboom Stretchmonster, stretchy toy.

Mesothelioma Data: Update (Sep 3, 2026, Australia)

Figures released on August 26, 2026 by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) noted that in 2025, 627 cases of mesothelioma had been reported to the Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR); likely asbestos exposures were assessed in 90% of those diagnosed and the median age at diagnosis was 78 years. The estimated health system expenditure for mesothelioma cases in 2023–2024 was A$48.6 million / US$35m (total cancers A$19.7 billion / US$14bn). In recent years, Australia’s relative survival rate for mesothelioma has been improving. See: Mesothelioma in Australia 2025.

Asbestos Pollution in Niagara (Sep 3, 2026, Canada)

Asbestos contamination was recently discovered in soil samples sourced from a former industrial site owned by General Motors in St. Catharines, Southern Ontario, Canada. Local people as well as regional councillors voiced strong criticism of the failure by Niagara Region Public Health and local officials to address the contamination issue. Attempts by members of the public to access information about the extent of the contamination at the 55-acre site next to downtown St. Catharines were continually thwarted. See: Niagara Public Health won’t investigate threats from asbestos, other contaminants on GM site.

[See also News Item Archive: http://ibasecretariat.org/abs_archive_news.php (June 2009 to present)]

Recent Articles (Sep 4, 2026)

The 16 most recent articles can be accessed from the IBAS home page, but please see below for abstracts and direct links to the latest articles.

Here We Go Again?

Sep 4, 2026. Abstract: A recent entry on the schedule for Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) revealed that a national asbestos litigation saga may finally be heading towards a resolution. After many setbacks, postponements and interruptions, the STF may be in a position to issue its judgment regarding the unconstitutionality of a Goiás State law which contravened a 2017 STF ruling outlawing the asbestos industry. Campaigners expressed “cautious optimism” that the contentious legislation will be quashed due to the advent of a new Goiás industry: the mining of the magnetic rare earths – neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium – at the Pela Ema mine in Minaçu, Goiás.

Philippines takes major step toward ending asbestos-related diseases

Aug 20, 2026. Abstract: The launch in the Philippines of the National Framework for the Prevention of Asbestos-Related Diseases last month marked “a milestone moment” in the national campaign to end asbestos mortality. Rejecting disinformation and propaganda spread by asbestos vested interests, the actions outlined in the Framework accepted the fundamental tenet that: “there's no safe level of asbestos exposure, and tackling it takes everyone working together, not just one agency acting alone.” The comprehensive roadmap delineated at the July event by the Philippine Department of Health was supported by representatives from the government, unions, industry, health agencies and international organizations in attendance.

Toy Retailer Held to Account!

Aug 19, 2026. Abstract: A Tribunal in New Zealand handed down a ruling on August 17, 2026 holding Kmart – a major toy retailer in Australasia – to account for all the costs incurred by consumers who purchased asbestos-contaminated toys sold by Kmart in Christchurch. As a media statement from Consumer NZ, an independent consumers’ advocacy group, explained: “this is the first Disputes Tribunal ruling in New Zealand concerning the recalled children’s sand.” The Tribunal found that the play sand was “unsafe, not fit for purpose and not of acceptable quality under the Consumer Guarantees Act.” We believe that this is the first such ruling anywhere which ordered a company to pay for decontamination of a claimant’s home and garden as well as other related costs. Thank you to Consumer NZ for permission to upload this text.

Indonesian President backs Asbestos Phase-out!

Aug 18, 2026. Abstract: Powerful political forces are aligning in Indonesia to support grassroots efforts to eradicate the asbestos hazard from southeast Asia’s largest asbestos-consuming country. Following shortly after the Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto issued a warning about the cancer hazard posed by the use of asbestos roofing, a statement was released by the Central Statistics Agency which categorized houses with asbestos roofs as “uninhabitable” because they did not meet building durability criteria and posed a health risk. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Housing and Ministry of Environment strongly recommend that asbestos-free roofing should be used to protect Indonesians from toxic exposures to an acknowledged carcinogen.

Press Release: IBAS Children’s Champions 2026

Aug 13, 2026. Abstract: A coalition of civil society groups representing asbestos victims, occupational health and safety campaigners and medical experts from Asia, Europe, Latin America and Australasia is delighted to announce the winners of The International Ban Asbestos Secretariat Children’s Champions Award 2026. All of the people and organizations recognized were “accidental activists” who were drawn into a critical situation not of their making. Individually and collectively they demanded answers about sales of potentially damaging children’s products in New Zealand and Australia. By so doing, they protected the lives of children at home and abroad. As UK campaigner Lynne Squibb said “The world is a safer place for the actions of Elle, David, Benjamin, Terri-Ann, Michael, Robert, Jason and their colleagues.”

[See also Article Abstract Archive: http://ibasecretariat.org/abs_archive_articles.php (April 2007 to present)]