International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

IBAS Blog by Laurie Kazan-Allen

Last updated July 21, 2026: all blog pages going back to November, 2011 can be accessed from the link.

Recent News Items (Aug 17, 2026)

New Toxic Toys Exposé (Aug 17, 2026, New Zealand)

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, UK)

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, France)

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, Australia)

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, Japan)

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, Canada)

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.

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

Recent Articles (Aug 13, 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.

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.”

IBAS Children’s Champions of 2026

Aug 13, 2026. Abstract: With the interconnectivity facilitated by contemporary means of communication, news about the contamination of children’s toys broadcast in late 2025 in New Zealand and Australia reverberated around the world in a matter of days. The discoveries which led to the global alert set off a chain reaction which resulted in recalls of toxic toys in multiple jurisdictions. For the first time, the story of how a few routine tests in a Brisbane laboratory led to international outrage, consumer mobilization and political confusion is recounted by those involved. I’m in no doubt that you’ll be able to see it in a Netflix miniseries before too long, but in the meantime you can read all about it here.

India’s Changing Asbestos Narrative

Aug 6, 2026. Abstract: Opposition is growing in India – the world’s biggest asbestos market – to it’s massive use of a mineral classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen. In 2024, 98,000 people in India died from lung cancer, a disease caused not only by smoking but also by exposures to asbestos and other toxins. Of course, lung cancer is not the only disease caused by asbestos exposures and there is no doubt that if the authorities investigate, they will find increasing numbers of patients with mesothelioma, cancers of the larynx and ovaries, asbestosis and pleural thickening. The data on the explosion in lung cancer incidence should be a wakeup call for Indian civil society and national regulators. The time has come for asbestos use to be phased out – it is a matter of life and death.

Asbestos Online Nightmare

Aug 3, 2026. Abstract: Whilst researching an article entitled: Report from the Asbestos Frontline: Summer 2026, I was astonished to see the widespread availability via online retail portals of products containing large amounts of asbestos, in some cases as much as 100%. Further investigations by colleagues in Malaysia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Indonesia and India, revealed a dizzying array of high-content asbestos material on sale in many Asian and East European countries. Despite the known risks posed by the use of products containing a group 1 carcinogen, there were no health hazard warnings visible in the advertisements.

History before It Happens

Jul 23, 2026. Abstract: There have been many historical events which took the world by surprise: the fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the results of the Brexit referendum, to name just a few. Looking back, however, the signs were there if only people had stopped to look. A look at recent developments in the few asbestos-producing countries which remain indicates that change could be on the horizon. The fortunes of asbestos vested interests in Brazil, China, Russia and Kazakhstan are, like those of other commercial enterprises, susceptible to adverse judicial rulings, social and environmental trends, changing market forces and international sanctions. The writing is on the wall!

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