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Proposals by the Scottish Law Commission currently being considered by the Holyrood Government would improve the rights of asbestos victims. Provisions of the draft Damages (Scotland) Bill reflect a better understanding of the “realities of asbestos disease.” If implemented, the updated regulations would benefit victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families by removing technical barriers to compensation claims for diseases which have notoriously long latency periods. See: Asbestos victims may get more legal rights.

The September 2, 2026 news alert broadcast on Italy's national public broadcasting company RAI which is cited below conveyed news of a Ministry of Health advisory about the hazards posed by the sale of an asbestos-contaminated toy in Italy. The toxic product was an elastic, carrot-shaped toy which had been recalled by the EU’s Safety Gate Alert scheme on July 9, 2026; it was made in China and contained tremolite asbestos-contaminated sand. See: Giocattoli contenenti amianto, ministero Salute: quali sono e cosa fare se li avete in casa [Toys containing asbestos – Ministry of Health: which ones they are and what to do if you have them at home].

The wonderful tribute cited below to the US historian and campaigner David Rosner, who died aged 79 on May 24, 2026, was written by his student and colleague Merlin Chowkwanyun. Professor Rosen’s scholarly output had a real-life impact; his ultimate goal was to hold to account individuals and corporations whose short-cuts and profit-driven decisions exposed others to undisclosed dangers. With better knowledge, people could make informed decisions prioritizing their own health and that of their families. He was a great man who will be much missed. See: Remembering David Rosner, Public Health Historian With A Purpose.

Local people in Western Hungary have grown tired of waiting for central government to act on the human health hazard posed by the historic use of asbestos-contaminated imported aggregates on road surfaces, parking lots and other public areas. Earlier this month, municipal officials in Szombathely took unilateral action and commissioned a specialist contractor to begin work covering the toxic roads with bitumen. Discussions with the central authorities remain ongoing. See: Nem várnak a kormányra Szombathelyen, elkezdik lefedni az azbesztet [They're not waiting for the government in Szombathely, they're starting to cover up asbestos].

On August 20, 2026, WORKSAFE – “New Zealand’s primary work health and safety regulator” – issued a public safety reminder regarding the use of high-pressure water spraying or compressed air on asbestos-containing materials (ACM), such as asbestos roofing often found on domestic properties, sheds and garages as well as on agricultural structures. According to the advisory: “Disturbing ACM can release asbestos fibres and contaminate surrounding areas, posing risks to workers, occupants, and others nearby.” See: Check for asbestos before undertaking high-pressure spraying on roofs.

According to inspectors for the Central and West Brabant Environment Agency (OMWB) – a regional environmental authority and regulatory body in the Noord-Brabant Province of the Netherlands – asbestos contamination was found at several supposedly cleared sites. Unfortunately, these shocking reports were not unusual; authorities elsewhere in the Netherlands and in Belgium said that asbestos had been found at other remediated sites which had been signed off. These developments, said one expert, cast doubt on the safety of the country’s asbestos supervision system. See: Who oversees the final inspection in the asbestos chain?

The article cited below appeared in the September 1, 2026 issue of the Daily Mail. It was the latest asbestos feature in the newspaper’s “Asbestos: Britain's Hidden Killer” campaign. The text described the 2024 asbestos cancer death of 20-year-old Liam; it’s believed that he was exposed to asbestos whilst at nursery or primary school. Journalist Steve Boggan cited anecdotal as well as statistical evidence to support comments by medical professionals that younger people are increasingly being diagnosed with mesothelioma, previously thought of as an older person’s disease. See: Liam was aged just 20 when he died of a cancer linked to asbestos. Is he one of a growing number of former pupils and teachers exposed to it at crumbling schools?

A high-profile August 30, 2026 column by the prominent Brazilian political and investigative journalist Lauro Jardim highlighted the launch of a new class action against Saint-Gobain, one of Brazil’s former asbestos giants, on behalf of injured Brazilian workers who are each claiming compensation of up to R$900,000 (~US$176,300). See [Subscription site]: Ação judicial apoiada pela ABREA (Associação dos Expostos ao Amianto) contra a Saint-Gobain, exigindo indenizações de até R$ 900 mil para funcionários expostos ao amianto [Lawsuit supported by ABREA (Association of Those Exposed to Asbestos) against Saint-Gobain, seeking compensation of up to R$900,000 for employees exposed to asbestos].

The considerable societal burden of asbestos-related lung cancer on the Turkish population was documented in an August 2026 online publication on the Lung Cancer Journal homepage. A decades-long study of a cohort in rural Turkey showed that environmental asbestos exposures were “associated with a >4-fold increase in lung cancer mortality.” The co-authors of the paper recommended “incorporating environmental asbestos exposure into risk assessment, surveillance, and low-dose computed tomography screening strategies in endemic regions.” See: Environmental asbestos exposure and lung cancer burden compared with mesothelioma in rural Türkiye: A 33-Year population-based cohort study.

A September 1, 2026 press release by the UK’s Department for Work and Pensions announced that following new legislation adopted by Parliament, dependants would now receive the same amount of compensation as sufferers of asbestos-related diseases and dust-related diseases like mesothelioma and pneumoconiosis. This change ended years of “unfair discrepancy,” during which the injured received a one-off government payment of £17,700, while dependents received £10,700 if the victim had not received compensation before death. See: Loved ones of asbestos and dust-disease victims to receive fairer compensation.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of the EterNOT Park, a public amenity built on the redmediated site of the infamous Eternit asbestos-cement factory in Casale Monferrato (CM), a series of events will be held on September 10. People from CM and asbestos victims and their families from Genoa are invited to attend the screening of the documentary “Asbestos. Genoa: history of a workers’ struggle” and hear presentations from civic dignitaries, victims’ campaigners and union officials. See: Due Città una Storia – Amianto a Genova e Casale [Two Cities, one Story – Asbestos in Genoa and Casale].

It was reported on September 1, 2026 that Assembly Member Jang Jae-seok of Chungnam Provincial Council, South Korea had proposed the establishment of an “integrated management support system for asbestos damage” to provide better care for asbestos victims in the Province. National data showed that 31% of South Korea’s asbestos victims (2,753) lived in Chungnam Province which was the location of Asia’s largest asbestos-producing mine. Even though the mine long ceased functioning, environmental contamination remains a serious health hazard to local communities. See: 전국 석면 피해 31%가 충남에…통합관리체계 구축 시급 [31% of Asbestos Damage Nationwide Concentrated in South Chungcheong Province… Urgent Need for Integrated Management System].

According to industrial hygienist Roy Denish: “The Sri Lanka asbestos crisis remains one of the country’s most complex public health, occupational safety and regulatory challenges.” In 2018, the Sri Lanka Government reversed plans to ban asbestos after economic blackmail by the Russian government. As a result, toxic exposures remain a daily occurrence at work and in residential properties. The danger is exacerbated by “informal labour and unsafe waste practices.” Workers in the emergency response, construction, maintenance and demolition sectors are among those at elevated risk of contracting asbestos-related diseases. See: Sri Lanka Asbestos Crisis Exposes a Silent Health Risk.

After months of toxic exposures and emotional turmoil, people in western Hungary have tired of the empty promises mouthed by government officials. A recap of the scandal caused by the use of asbestos-contaminated Austrian aggregates on road surfaces in and around the Szombathely area put into context news from Brussels where EU officials engaged with an Open Letter by global campaigners concerned about the human health consequences of environmental exposures to a known carcinogen. See: Már Brüsszel is aggódik a súlyos magyarországi azbesztbotrány miatt, miközben Magyar Péterék lapítanak [Brussels is already worried about the serious asbestos scandal in Hungary, while Péter Magyar and his team are covering up].

According to data provided at the request of Flemish MP Gianna Werbrouck, in 2026 173 schools in Flanders applied for subsidies for asbestos removal costs. This is nearly twice as many as last year. Asbestos audits remain outstanding for 6,000 Flemish schools. In 2025, the Flemish government announced plans to cover all the costs of asbestos removal from schools. The deadline for eradicating the asbestos hazard from the educational infrastructure of Flanders is 2030. See: Le nombre d'écoles en Flandre qui sollicitent des subventions pour un désamiantage a presque double [The number of schools in Flanders that apply for subsidies for asbestos removal has almost doubled].

The latest figures released on August 27, 2026 by Eternit, S.A. – Brazil’s only remaining asbestos producer – for the first and second quarters (Q) of 2026 revealed that the chrysotile mining sector of the company (SAMA) is facing “intense pressure and compressing profit margins.” SAMA’s annual chrysotile production estimates for 2026 were 172,000-176,000 tonnes. In Q1, lower chrysotile export volumes contributed to a 6.5% decrease in net revenue while in Q2 a 30.2% fall in chrysotile revenue contributed to a ~77% decline in gross profit. See:
 
Eternit, S.A. Q1 2026 Summary;
Eternit, S.A. Q2 2026 Summary.

On September 8, 2026, NYC Mayor Mamdani told a press conference that 68 boxes of evidence detailing “what the city knew about toxic air around ground zero, when they knew it, and how they acted to limit liability” had been found. In the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center, the Mayor announced that an online portal had been created with 170,000+ documents from the hidden archive. More documents will be uploaded in the coming months. Speaking at City Hall, the Mayor said: “People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air.” Asbestos was found “nearly everywhere” in the vicinity of ground zero; 10 months after the attack, health officials reported finding asbestos half a mile away from the site. [Read full article]

Dr Gregory Deleuil lived life to the full. He made the most of every chance to connect, assist and enjoy opportunities as they presented themselves. He was a medical practitioner who never lost the human touch and was often called upon by patients to translate into ordinary language the jargon transmitted by pulmonary and cancer specialists. He was trusted by his patients and their families who often became personal friends. He was an easy man to love and my whole family did so with gusto. When my son got ill with pneumonia in Perth, Greg treated him. When my daughter invited him to her wedding, he was there at the top table. We loved him to bits. This love will endure long after his passing. The world is a greyer and sadder place without him. [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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.” [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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. [Read full article]

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! [Read full article]

The war to end the asbestos slaughter is not just being fought in countries where asbestos use remains legal; battles are ongoing elsewhere over illegal sales of toxic products and historic environmental pollution. The foot soldiers in these skirmishes are parents, local people and regional politicians as well as civil society campaigners, all of whom face daunting challenges as they engage powerful industrial, commercial and government vested interests. A new text which documented key developments in Asia, Oceania and Europe this summer substantiated the author’s conclusion that: “In the fight to end asbestos mortality, there are no civilians: every one of us is on the frontline.” [Read full article]

Earlier this month (July), asbestos victims’ groups in England, Scotland and Wales. and UK cancer charities mounted a myriad of events to remember those lost to deadly asbestos-related diseases. New government data confirmed the lived experience of these campaigners: the country’s asbestos epidemic continues to cause a massive loss of life more than 20 years after asbestos was banned. New toxic exposures continue as a result of asbestos material remaining within the national infrastructure and the import and sale of asbestos-contaminated play sand, toys and decorative household goods. [Read full article]

Global concern over dangerous discoveries in Hungary prompted campaigning groups from around the world to issue a formal statement regarding the “unfolding health emergency in the Hungarian town of Szombathely.” In the Open Letter to Hungarian and EU officials, the signatories stressed that: “The situation is time critical. The health of nearly 1,500 local residents as well as ~1,000 people living in the surrounding streets is being endangered every single day, with children at the highest risk of contracting asbestos-related cancers and diseases!” Government and EU officials in Budapest and Brussels were urged “to stand in solidarity with Szombathely and protect the health of all those at risk from this man-made disaster” (click ide a magyar verzióért of this letter). [Read full article]

Indonesia is a significant asbestos market, both in terms of the amount of asbestos it imports and its strategic importance. To compensate for the collapse of global demand, asbestos vested interests are fighting tooth and nail to protect this market and others like it. Despite the backroom deals and political pressure – as evinced by the latest asbestos industry initiative designed to lock Indonesia into many more years of asbestos imports and use – grassroots campaigners continue their efforts to end the slaughter by raising asbestos awareness, progressing multi-stakeholder collaborations and using well-honed tactics to implement an effective and targeted strategy to eradicate asbestos-related deaths. [Read full article]

June 13, 2026 was a day of surprises. Within a few hours, news was circulated of landmark developments substantiating progress made in the fight for asbestos victims’ rights in Brazil, the UK and Belgium. To someone who is “old school” when it comes to the news, the fact that the links for all these stories came via social media posts rather than mainstream media sources was disconcerting. It pains me to say – as I am no lover of social media – that, from what I have seen, when you are looking for news of real substance the place to look is no longer traditional outlets but hysteria-free platforms like LinkedIn. [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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