News Archive

On June 26, 2024, the Napes Court of Appeal confirmed a lower court’s verdict that the Swiss billionaire Stephan Schmidheiny’s negligence had caused the asbestos-related death of a worker from the Eternit Bagnoli factory in Naples. The jail sentence of three years and six months for negligent homicide was upheld. Lawyers for the defendant said that he would appeal “this unjustified sentence” to the Italian Supreme Court. This legal action is one of many being progressed against Schmidheiny over his responsibility for the deaths and injuries caused by the Swiss Eternit Group. See: Confirmation du jugement contre Stephan Schmidheiny [Confirmation of the judgment against Stephan Schmidheiny].

Victims’ Verdict in Fukoka

Jun 28, 2024

On June 27, 2024, the Fukuoka District Court ordered 5 building material producers from Kyushu island, Japan to pay compensation of 148 million yen (US$~922,000) to 65 injured asbestos claimants and/or surviving family members. In his ruling presiding judge Ueda Hiroyuki concluded that “it was possible for manufacturers who produced and sold building materials containing asbestos to predict that indoor construction workers would be exposed to dust. Therefore, the manufacturers had a duty to warn workers about the dangers and how to avoid them, but they did not.” See: 建設アスベスト訴訟５社に１億４８００万円賠償命令 [Construction asbestos lawsuit: Five companies ordered to pay 148 million yen in damages].

Queensland Victory in Asbestos Case

Jun 28, 2024

The legal team representing 77-year old asbestos claimant Kim Martin achieved a landmark verdict before the Supreme Court of Queensland, which ordered Amaca – formerly known as James Hardie & Coy – to pay $2 million+ for exposing the plaintiff to asbestos as a result of which he contracted the fatal cancer mesothelioma. Martin had routinely worked with Hardie products; he had never been warned of the asbestos hazard or been advised to use protective equipment. This was the first pain and suffering award for a mesothelioma victim handed down in Queensland; it was also Australia’s largest pain and suffering award for a mesothelioma victim. See: Amaca ordered to pay $1.21m in landmark decision from Qld jury.

Outlook for Asbestos Sector

Jun 28, 2024

According to an independent credit rating agency (ICRA) in India, profits of manufacturers of asbestos-cement roofing are likely to achieve growth of up to 9% in 2025-26 after recovering from disruptions and price rises for Russian asbestos exports in 2022-24 caused by the war on Ukraine. The ICRA analysis of market conditions concluded as follows: “The key players are moving towards de-risking their business profiles by entering non-asbestos segments due to regulatory risks associated with the threat of a ban on the usage of these products and on the mining of asbestos in the producing countries.” See: Asbestos-based roofing players’ PBIT margins likely at 8-9% in FY25 and FY26, margins to slide in FY22-24 on Russia-Ukraine conflict, supply chain disruptions.

Surveillance Program under Threat

Jun 28, 2024

During a radio broadcast on June 26, 2024, a spokesperson for the local asbestos victims’ group (ADEVA) in Sarthe, northern France expressed the concerns of members about plans by Public Health France to end the national mesothelioma surveillance scheme due to funding constraints. According to ADEVA’s Sonia Hertz: “If the monitoring program is stopped there is a chance that some of the victims will no longer come forward. There are already 27% of mesothelioma cases that are not reported.” See: Amiante: l'ADEVA de la Sarthe inquiète pour le suivi des maladies [Asbestos: Sarthe members of ADEVA concerned about the follow-up of patients].

Asbestos Waste: Civic Nightmare

Jun 28, 2024

Residents of Pocheon City, South Korea are becoming increasingly concerned about the hazard posed by illegally dumped asbestos waste at a landfill facility. The failure of the authorities to take action was criticized by local people. In response, an official of the Environmental Guidance Division said that officials were “promptly investigating the illegally buried pieces of asbestos slate. Through on-site verification and detailed analysis, we plan to determine the exact amount of landfill and impact, and take necessary measures.” See: [단독]포천시 불법 매립지, 유해 석면 방치… 환경 당국의 늑장 대응에 주민 불안 가중 [Exclusive. Illegal landfill in Pocheon City, neglect of harmful asbestos… Delayed response from environmental authorities increases anxiety among residents].

Asbestos-cement Water Pipes

Jun 26, 2024

The article cited below which documented the increasing fragility of water supply delivery systems throughout Canada, highlighted the widespread presence of deteriorating asbestos-cement pipes: between 2010 and 2022, there were 2,477 asbestos-cement water main breaks in Regina, the capital city of Saskatchewan Province. Up to now, there has been no monitoring or regulation of asbestos in Canadian water; in addition, there is no validated method or certified laboratories in Canada to measure asbestos in water. The federal government is currently compiling a national inventory of asbestos-cement water pipes which will be ready in 2025. See: Calgary's water emergency is just the start.

Toxic Talc

Jun 26, 2024

Yet another class action was filed on June 17, 2024 against the US Pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson (J&J) by cancer claimants who alleged that use of the company’s talc-based products caused ovarian and other cancers. The thousands of potential plaintiffs seek damages and the establishment of a medical monitoring program “on behalf of women who have been diagnosed with cancer, or might develop it in the future, allegedly as a result of using the company's baby powder and other talc products.” See: J&J hit with new class action over talc seeking medical monitoring for cancer.

New Asbestos Data

Jun 26, 2024

According to data released on June 19, 2024 by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there were 1,170 worker’s accident claims caused by asbestos recognized in 2023; this was 91 cases more than in the previous year. Amongst the diseases acknowledged were: 642 cases of mesothelioma and 433 lung cancers. Toxic exposures in the construction industry accounted for 65.2% of the total whilst 28.8% were due to exposures in the manufacturing industry. See: 石綿労災、２３年度は１１７０件認定　前年度比９１件増、厚労省まとめ [Asbestos worker's accident certified in FY23 1,170 cases, an increase of 91 cases from the previous year, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare summary].

Alert over the use of Asbestos-Cement Pipes

Jun 26, 2024

An article uploaded on a Russian news portal on June 20, 2024 about the availability of material for construction projects in Russia, which reviewed the range and cost of asbestos-cement pipes, concluded as follows: “Despite the continued use of asbestos-cement pipes in Russia, it is worth considering alternative materials that provide similar functionality without potential health risks. Asbestos-free alternatives, such as plastic or concrete pipes, are becoming increasingly popular in many countries due to their safety and environmental benefits.” See: Асбестовая труба: особенности производства в России [Asbestos pipe: features of production in Russia].

Asbestos in Schools

Jun 26, 2024

A campaign by trade unionists in the French department of Eure-et-Loir, located in the region of Centre-Val de Loire, has raised the alert over the hazard to children as well as staff due to the presence of deteriorating asbestos-containing material in schools: 70% of schools in Eure-et-Loir contain asbestos material. Only 25 out of 36 nursery schools are asbestos-free while 57 out of 84 elementary schools contain asbestos as do 31 of 39 middle schools and 15 of 16 high schools. See: De l’amiante dans 70% des écoles d’Eure-et-Loir: «On empoisonne les futures générations!» [Asbestos in 70% of schools in Eure-et-Loir: "We are poisoning future generations!”].

Compensation for Mesothelioma Death

Jun 26, 2024

Yet another railway worker’s asbestos death has been recognized by the Court of Taranto, Italy which ordered the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL) to pay substantial compensation to members of the family of Pascale Laperchia. The deceased, who had been employed as a maintenance worker for 35 years by the State Railways, died from the signature cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma, in 2021 at the age of 73. See: Lavoratore morto per l'esposizione all'amianto: condannata l'Inail [Worker died from exposure to asbestos: INAIL condemned].

Railway Asbestos Trial?

Jun 20, 2024

It was reported last week, that in May 2024 a request had been made by the Paris prosecutor's office for trial of a former railway official who is accused of having endangered the lives of railway workers at a maintenance center in Saintes (Charente-Maritime) between 1998 and 2000 by failing to prevent workplace exposures to asbestos. The 79-year-old accused is referred to as Gilles L. and is a former director of the Établissement Industriel de Maintenance du Matériel (Industrial Establishment for Equipment Maintenance). The decision on whether or not there will be a trial remains in the hands of the investigating judges in charge of the case. See: Amiante, 25 ans après: y aura-t-il un procès pour l'ancien responsable SNCF? [Asbestos, 25 years later: will there be a trial for the former SNCF official?].

Victim’s Verdict by Top Court

Jun 20, 2024

According to the Basque Association of Asbestos Victims, the Supreme Court of the Basque Country rejected an appeal from Nervacero SA, a Spanish steel producer, against a Labor Court judgment awarding the sum of €163,931 (US$176,200) to the family of a worker who died in 2020 from mesothelioma. The deceased had inhaled asbestos at the steel mill due to no safety measures being in place to protect the workers from toxic exposures. See: Ratifican la indemnización de 163.931 euros a la familia de un trabajador vasco que murió tras trabajar décadas expuesto al amianto [Compensation of 163,931 euros to the family of a Basque worker who died after working for decades exposed to asbestos has been ratified].

Caring for the Caregivers

Jun 20, 2024

A $1.1 million grant has been received by the Michigan State University (MSU) to undertake a study designed to improve psychosocial support for mesothelioma caregivers. The funding was donated by the U.S. Department of Defense and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. The research by MSU social work doctoral students Jen Hirsch and Linda Zhang will take four years and feature various research modes including: information gathering, in-person sessions, homework and in-depth participant interviews. See: MSU School of Social Work received $1.1M grant for mesothelioma research.

Addressing the Asbestos Legacy

Jun 20, 2024

Sixty years after operations had ceased, the derelict asbestos mine and processing units in the Corsican town of Canari has become a toxic eyesore. Work at remediating this site, previously owned by the Eternit asbestos conglomerate, is due to begin in 2025 after an 8-month long “meticulous preparatory phase.” A budget of €6 million (US$6.5m) for the decontamination work is expected to overrun due to the widespread pollution present in this environmental blot on the landscape. See: Dans le Cap Corse, le seul site industriel d'amiante de la métropole va être démoli [In Cap Corse, the only asbestos industrial site in the metropolis will be demolished].

Breakthrough in Russia?

Jun 19, 2024

Russia’s Ministry of Health last week uploaded to its website a proposal to recognize as occupationally-caused diseases cancers caused by exposure to a number of substances, including asbestos. After a consultation period, which ended on June 17, 2024, the draft regulations will be finalized; they are scheduled to come into force on March 1, 2025. As Russia’s is the world’s largest producer of asbestos and the paymaster for the global asbestos lobby, this news will, almost certainly, be a huge shock to vested interests. See: Онкологию признают профессиональным заболеванием [Cancer to be recognized as an occupational disease].

The Long-tail Asbestos Legacy in NSW

Jun 19, 2024

Residents of the former asbestos mining town of Baryulgil in New South Wales (NSW), Australia are still paying with their lives for the mining of chrysotile asbestos, even though operations ceased decades ago. From 1953-1979, the James Hardie (JH) company’s asbestos mine was the biggest employer in Baryulgil. Generations of JH employees died from asbestos-related diseases as have local people exposed to the asbestos waste JH gave away free for use as landfill for roads, playgrounds and sports areas. See: Years after Baryulgil's asbestos mine closed down, a deadly legacy remains with the people of this land.

Asbestos Risk to Construction Workers

Jun 19, 2024

The paper cited below was published in the May 2024 issue of the Indonesian Journal of Medical Sciences. The aim of the study undertaken by the five Indonesian co-authors was to better understand the danger posed by asbestos exposures to construction workers, in order to find measures to minimize the hazards. “The construction sector has,” they concluded “the highest exposure to asbestos compared to other sectors or industries and has a high number of asbestosis cases.” Recommendations made included the provision of state-of-the-art personal protective equipment and the implementation of a health and safety regime with checks on workers’ health and worksite inspections by health and safety specialists. See: Occupational Asbestos-containing Materials Exposure and Risk of Asbestosis among Construction Workers.

Supporting Asbestos Cancer Patients

Jun 19, 2024

The almost always fatal outcome of a mesothelioma diagnosis, the age of most of the injured, the severity of physical symptoms and the lack of treatment options impose an almost unsustainable psychological burden on patients, many of whom experience anxiety, depression or PTSD. The delays in NHS appointments and the lack of mental health counsellors exacerbate an already difficult situation. Counsellors employed by a charity supporting asbestos victims have a vital role to play in safeguarding the mental as well as the physical health of patients. See: Treating anxiety and depression in mesothelioma patients.

Asbestos Discovery in Western Australia

Jun 19, 2024

It was reported on June 18, 2024, that government biosecurity laboratories in Perth, Western Australia had been closed as a precautionary measure on June 14 after the discovery of aging asbestos material. Three hundred employees normally work at the plant and animal labs housed at the dilapidated South Perth facility belonging to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. An investigation and air monitoring tests are ongoing. A new biosecurity facility is under construction at Murdoch University; when it’s opened in 2027, 350 staff will work there. See: Asbestos scare closes government biosecurity labs in South Perth.

Victim’s Ruling in Florence

Jun 19, 2024

A sub-contractor – Franco Berti – who had been exposed to asbestos whilst working at a facility owned by Enel S.p.A. – an Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and gas – has been awarded €118,000 (US$127,000) by the Florence Court of Appeal. Unsafe working conditions, which were the result of Enel’s negligence, resulted in the claimant contracting asbestosis in 2014. Enel is considering appealing this verdict to the Supreme Court (Court of Cassation). See: Esposizione all’amianto, la Corte d’appello di Firenze condanna Enel a pagare 118mila euro [Exposure to asbestos, the Florence Court of Appeal orders Enel to pay 118 thousand euros].

Supreme Court Reverses Erroneous Ruling

Jun 18, 2024

On June 12, 2024, Italy’s Supreme Court (Court of Cassation) annulled the acquittal by the Court of Appeal of Palermo of individuals who had been charged over the asbestos deaths of 39 shipyard workers from the Fincantieri shipyard in Palermo, Sicily. The Court of Appeal had ruled that workplace asbestos exposures at the shipyard had ceased in the 1980s although many witnesses testified otherwise. A new trial has been ordered. See: Palermo. Morti per amianto al cantiere navale: cassazione annulla assoluzioni [Palermo. Asbestos-related deaths at the shipyard: Court of Cassation annuls acquittals].

Asbestos-Free Schools by 2026

Jun 18, 2024

On June 13, 2024, the Gyeonggi Provincial Department of Education in South Korea announced that it was on track to eradicate the asbestos hazard from all its schools by 2026. In 2024, the Department Office of Education invested 136.5 billion won (US $99.3m) for the asbestos removal project in 199 schools. Responding to criticism that the expertise of asbestos monitors in schools was inadequate, additional professional training will be provided to strengthen the competency of asbestos staff at the Education Support Agency. See: 경기도교육청, 학교 석면 제거 2026년까지 완료 목표 [Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education aims to complete asbestos removal in schools by 2026].

Asbestos Replacement Program

Jun 18, 2024

More than 30 years after they were installed, asbestos-cement pipes in Nicosia, Cyprus are in “critical condition… with portions of the network collapsing.” Over four thousand meters of these aging and toxic pipes need replacing. A remediation program, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme costing €1 million (US$1.1m), will take place between June 15 and September 15, 2024. to safeguard the health of all Nicosians. See: EU-funded works commence to replace old asbestos pipes in critical Nicosia Sewer.