News Archive

On December 3, 2024, President Salvador Illa approved a draft law to eradicate the asbestos hazard from Catalonia – which stipulated strict procedures and timelines for the removal of asbestos from the built environment. Once the law is implemented, fines of up to €100,000 (US$105,000) could be levied on property owners who fail to comply with asbestos removal orders. It will also become mandatory for asbestos certificates to be presented during all property transactions, including sales, purchases, and rentals. See: Government approves ‘pioneering’ bill to eradicate asbestos in Catalonia.

Victory in Paris Court!

Dec 6, 2024

French officials in Saint Denis, a northern suburb of Paris, hailed a November 27th decision by the Paris Court of Appeal condemning the owners of a company, which for almost forty years operated an asbestos factory in the area. The defendant – Comptoir de minerals et matières premières [Minerals and raw materials company] – was ordered to pay the municipality ~ €14 million (US$14.8m) for damaging health and the environment. The money awarded was for work to decontaminate the derelict factory and surrounding area. See [subscription site]: Amiante à Aulnay-sous-Bois: la société mère de «l’usine-poison» devra verser près de 14 millions d’euros [Asbestos in Aulnay-sous-Bois: the parent company of the “poison factory” will have to pay nearly 14 million euros].

Landmark Reform in WA

Dec 6, 2024

On December 1, 2024, the Civil Liability (Provisional Damages for Dust Diseases) Act 2024 came into force – under which, Western Australians diagnosed with diseases caused by the inhalation of asbestos or silica dust have “improved access to fair and just compensation” like victims in other Australian States. As a result of the new legislation, individuals in WA “who develop multiple separate illnesses because of inhalation of asbestos or silica dust” will be entitled to seek subsequent damages should they develop new conditions arising from the same exposure. See: Fair compensation outcomes for dust disease sufferers commence.

Connecticut Mesothelioma Verdict

Dec 6, 2024

A unanimous November judgment of the Superior Court Judicial District of Bridgeport, Connecticut ordered that $7.5 million compensation in punitive damages be paid by R.T. Vanderbilt Holding Company to the surviving family of an engineer who died aged 81 in 2023 of mesothelioma. In May, 2024, a jury had also found the same defendant liable for $15 million after a four-week trial. The deceased, who had worked for General Electric Co. and Olin Corp., had routinely been exposed to asbestos between 1960 and 1979. See: Judge awards $7.5M in punitive damages to CT-based family of engineer who died of mesothelioma.

Two More Tragic Deaths

Dec 6, 2024

People in Belgium, which for decades had been at the center of Europe’s asbestos industry, have an in-depth knowledge of the consequences of asbestos exposures. The asbestos cancer deaths on November 27, 2024 of Erik Meersschaert (68) and Luc Heirbaut (67) were an unwanted reminder of the price this small country had paid for its deadly asbestos legacy. Both of the deceased were artists and had worked with asbestos, one at a factory and the other in a garage, decades ago. Luc’s father (2002) and brother-in-law (2022) had also died from the same asbestos cancer. See: Kunstenaars Erik (68) en Luc (67) op dezelfde dag gestorven aan dezelfde kanker: “Asbest is helaas overal” [Artists Erik (68) and Luc (67) died on the same day from the same cancer: “Asbestos is unfortunately everywhere”].

Concern over Asbestos Roofing

Dec 6, 2024

Local residents concerned about the deterioration of asbestos roofing on homes in Govan Mbeki Municipality, in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa are calling on the local government to eradicate the hazard by replacing the toxic roofing with safer material. According to Mxolisi Mlata (66), “municipal officials came to my house earlier this year and promised to replace the asbestos roof with corrugated iron, but this has still not happened.” Speaking on behalf of the municipality Donald Green said information collected by the authorities documenting the asbestos contamination had been sent to the Department of Human Settlements. See: Residents want Govan Mbeki Municipality to remove asbestos roofs.

Going Asbestos-free in China!

Dec 3, 2024

The article cited below documented the increasing availability debate in China – one of the world’s biggest asbestos producers and users – of asbestos-free alternative products. In this case, the safer fireproofing products under discussion are based on fiberglass, silicone rubber and polymer materials. Included in the text is a section on asbestos fireproofing which stated that this type of fireproofing is being “gradually phased out” due to the health hazards posed by its use: asbestos use had, the author wrote “been banned in many countries” as it caused diseases and cancer. See: 防火套管的材料选择对其性能有何影响？ [How does the choice of material for a fireproof sleeve affect its performance?].

Toxic or Non Toxic Talc?

Dec 3, 2024

According to the Russian website to which it was uploaded the article cited below, about the asbestos contamination of cosmetics, was written by journalist Nikolai Grinko. If so, he should be congratulated for producing an informative piece explaining a number of matters of historical and scientific interest. The last paragraph, however, was totally out of keeping with what came before and can only be explained by the author experiencing a memory lapse or by someone else writing the contradictory conclusion saying it was “completely pointless to urge women to use less cosmetics.” See: Ученые предупреждают об опасности талька в косметике [Scientists warn about the dangers of talc in cosmetics].

Victim’s Victory in São Paulo

Dec 3, 2024

Judge José Luiz Xavier of the 2nd Chamber of the Regional Labor Court of Brazil’s 1st Region (Rio de Janeiro) confirmed a lower court verdict ordering the São Paulo manufacturer of construction materials Teadit to pay compensation of ~R$1.1 million (US$181,200) to the family of an employee who died, aged 72, from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma in 2018. According to the Judge: “the employer contributed to the illness that killed the employee, since it did not provide him with the necessary safety to perform his duties…” See: Justiça manda indenizar família de homem morto por exposição a amianto [Court orders compensation for family of man killed by asbestos exposure].

Tribunal Calls for Asbestos Action

Dec 3, 2024

India’s National Green Tribunal (NGT) condemned the failure of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to take action on serious concerns about the hazard posed to human health by asbestos contamination of schools, despite a directive ordering that a scientific study be undertaken to learn “whether the health risks for students differed from those faced by industrial workers exposed to asbestos.” The Ministry was ordered to send a senior MoEFCC officer to court on December 17 to explain why it had not complied with the NGT’s directive. See: NGT slams MoEF for ‘stalling action’ over asbestos sheets in educational institutions.

EPA Acts on Legacy Asbestos

Dec 3, 2024

On November 27, 2024, Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final Risk Evaluation for Asbestos Part 2: Supplemental Evaluation Including Legacy Uses and Associated Disposals of Asbestos conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Following extensive research, the EPA concluded that “legacy uses of asbestos that result in asbestos exposure significantly contribute to the unreasonable risk presented by asbestos.” Among those at highest risk from exposures asbestos within the built environment are construction workers and first responders, as well as their family members. See: EPA Finalizes Part 2 TSCA Risk Evaluation for Asbestos.

Power Plant Ruling

Dec 3, 2024

A compensation payout of €1,500,000+ (US$1.6m+) was awarded to the family of a refinery worker from Naples, Italy who died from the signature asbestos cancer, mesothelioma. The deceased, referred to as V.T., had worked for 20 years in several capacities throughout the thermoelectric plant which had been owned by Mobil Oil Italiana. Based on the court’s investigation, the Labor Judge ruled that the company had used asbestos without occupational protections being implemented; as a result of the company’s negligence, V.T. contracted cancer. See: Amianto killer: raffineria Kuwait condannata a risarcire la famiglia dell’operaio morto per mesothelioma [Killer asbestos: Kuwait refinery ordered to compensate the family of worker who died of mesothelioma].

Asbestos Banned for Use in ADB Projects

Nov 29, 2024

A five-page policy paper called the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) recently disseminated by the Asian Development Ban (ADB) – “a regional development bank … [working] to promote social and economic development in Asia” – contained new provisions prohibiting the use of asbestos in ADB-funded projects. Included now on the Prohibited Investment Activities List is “financing the production, trade or use of asbestos fibers… This change is premised on a precautionary approach to avoid exposure risks to project workers and community members to all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials given the significant health risk.” See: Asian Development Bank Environmental and Social Framework Policy Paper.

Asbestos in Schools

Nov 29, 2024

A press statement issued by South African politician Bronwynn Engelbrecht, a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (MPL) and a member of Gauteng’s Education Committee, on November 26, 2024 called for urgent eradication of the asbestos hazard from public schools. Despite a commitment made in 2013 by the Gauteng Department of Education to address the deadly contamination, the MPL claimed that “29 schools in Gauteng are built entirely or predominantly from asbestos…” See: Gauteng’s 29 asbestos schools a disgrace, demanding action from uncaring Gauteng government.

Asbestos & DIY

Nov 29, 2024

As Asbestos Awareness Week commenced in Australia, a lot of articles and resources were uploaded highlighting the country’s deadly legacy created by decades of asbestos production and use. One in three Australian domestic properties still contain asbestos. The article cited below focused on the ongoing health hazard posed by DIY work in asbestos-containing homes; anecdotal evidence suggests that an increase in asbestos disease levels is due to non-occupational asbestos exposures such as those which occur during unsafe home renovations. See: Asbestos is still found in one in three Australian homes and DIY renovations are leading to exposure among women and children.

Eradicating the Asbestos Hazard

Nov 29, 2024

Ecological restoration work to restore abandoned asbestos mines in the Giant Panda National Park in Shimian County, Sichuan Province, China has been completed. After decades of asbestos mining, 245 hectares of land covering the areas of Banchanggou, Guangyuanbao and Xinkang have been neutralized using a “five-step construction method” of mine ecological restoration to address “the geological disasters, soil erosion and leakage problems caused by large-scale slag accumulation, and improve the survival rate and construction efficiency of the restored vegetation.” See: 石棉县废弃矿山生态修复完成助力大熊猫国家公园建设 [The ecological restoration of abandoned mines in Shimian County was completed to help the construction of the Giant Panda National Park].

Asbestos in Cosmetics

Nov 29, 2024

The contamination of talc with asbestos fibers and the use of that talc in consumer products for personal hygiene and care has resulted in a new wave of asbestos litigation by people injured through their use of toxic baby powder, face powders, eye shadows etc. The application of toxic products to the face means that the inhalation of harmful fibers is likely. The author of the article cited below calls for action saying: “If the use of talc-based cosmetics is to become a matter of consumer risk, similar to smoking, consumers must be made aware of the potential dangers.” See: Why Asbestos Is Still Being Found in Some Cosmetics.

Unfit for Purpose

Nov 22, 2024

According to a report issued on November 15, 2024 by the National Audit Office, the UK Government’s spending watchdog, the former Tory Government spent £15 million on the acquisition of a derelict prison site in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex to provide accommodation for migrants in a bid to defuse public anger at the rising cost of housing asylum seeks in hotels. The site was, subsequently, “deemed unfit for its intended purpose due to [asbestos] contamination.” Months prior to the purchase being completed, planning checks revealed “high risk” contamination “from asbestos-containing materials in existing buildings and contaminated ground.” See: Home Office ‘cut corners’ and 'wasted' £15m on asbestos-riddled migrant camp.

Asbestos Disease Data: Update

Nov 22, 2024

According to data released by Italy’s National Institute of Health (ISS), there was an average of 1,545 deaths a year from mesothelioma between 2010 and 2020, almost all of which were in people over 50 years old. Throughout that time period, there was a total of 17,000 mesothelioma-related deaths with 375 municipalities showing higher mortality rates than the regional average. Mesothelioma mortality was elevated in regions with industrial asbestos legacies such as Piedmont, Lombardy, Val d'Aosta and Liguria. Although asbestos use was banned in Italy in 1992, asbestos remains a priority public health issue. See: L’amianto in Italia resta un’emergenza nazionale [Asbestos in Italy remains a national emergency].

Asbestos Incident at Quebec Shipyard

Nov 22, 2024

A number of workers at the Davie shipyard in the Quebec city of Lévis were exposed to asbestos during repair work on the Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Toronto on October 17, 2024. A report on Radio-Canada said that the workers had used a rotary tool to remove a gasket from the ship's exhaust system. By doing so, they created an emission of dust which contained asbestos fibers. Work was shut down, the site was secured, and an investigation was begun. As the workers had not anticipated finding asbestos in the gasket, they were not wearing the personal protective equipment which would have been required for this type of work. See: Davie workers exposed to asbestos.

Eradicating the Asbestos Hazard

Nov 22, 2024

On November 21, 2024 South Korea’s Ministry of Environment and the Social Welfare Joint Fundraising Association held a public event in Seoul to highlight the successful completion of many projects to eradicate the asbestos hazard from schools and welfare centers used primarily by children. Work by the Ministry of Environment to decontaminate these high-priority structures has been ongoing since 2017. The winners of the Asbestos Safety Poster Competition were announced during the event. See: 환경부, '아동복지시설 석면안전 선언 및 성과 발표회' 개최 [Ministry of Environment Holds ‘Asbestos Safety Declaration and Performance Presentation in Child Welfare Facilities’].

New Mesothelioma Diagnostic Tool

Nov 22, 2024

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Philadelphia announced a breakthrough discovery that would enable scientists to identify complex DNA patterns as a way of achieving an early diagnosis of mesothelioma, the signature asbestos cancer, without the need for interventional medical procedures. The results of their study – Individualized Cell-Free DNA Monitoring With Chromosomal Junctions for Mesothelioma – were published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology Clinical and Research Reports. See: Innovative test that detects complex DNA patterns may improve mesothelioma detection rate in blood.

Cancer Case Launched against J&J

Nov 22, 2024

A report released by the BBC this week claimed that women with ovarian cancer are part of a first-of-its-kind UK legal action against the US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) which for decades produced talc-based baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The legal team representing 1,900 potential claimants, including cancer patients, survivors and families, say that this lawsuit will be the “largest pharmaceutical product group action in English and Welsh legal history.” In the US, there are tens of thousands of cancer cases against J&J still pending. See: Women plan UK legal action over talc cancer claims.

New Toxic Waste Disposal Technology

Nov 18, 2024

A recently published academic paper by Italian researchers examined options for safely managing asbestos-containing waste with a focus on a new technology which “reduces the treatment time (and costs) and yields a reusable, asbestos-neutral building material.” Having considered various aspects of an innovative process for the thermal inertization of asbestos waste – as an alternative to landfill disposal – the authors of the paper recommended that further study be undertaken to assess “hidden environmental costs and risks.” See: Economic valuation of the thermal inertization of asbestos waste—an Italian case study.

Asbestos Tragedies on Land & Sea

Nov 18, 2024

Texts published last week in the French daily newspaper L'Humanité (Humanity), which were sadly behind a pay wall, documented the human consequences of historic asbestos use on land and at sea. The article cited below featured input from Dr Alain Carré, an occupational physician in the electricity and gas industries for more than three decades, whilst the other one (Jusqu'à 200 000 marins exposés à l'amiante: le drame silencieux des personnels de la Marine nationale [Up to 200,000 naval personnel exposed to asbestos: the silent drama of the French Navy) documented the effects of toxic exposures on naval personnel. See: Amiante: «On n’imagine pas le nombre de personnes qui ont été exposées» [Asbestos: “We can’t imagine the number of people who have been exposed”].