News:

News text:

Christchurch parents Elle Chrisp and David Dingwall are taking retailer Kmart to New Zealand’s Disputes Tribunal to reclaim costs incurred in dealing with the aftermath of their purchases of asbestos-contaminated children’s products. The sums involved are considerable, as the asbestos decontamination work on their homes ran into “tens of thousands” of dollars. They also submitted complaints to the regulators – the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, Worksafe, Customs and the Commerce Commission. See: Parents take Kmart to Disputes Tribunal over play sand containing asbestos.

Three months after an article in The Guardian newspaper set off a tidal wave of media coverage of an unfolding national asbestos scandal, another article was published by the same journalist. From the April 27th report by Anna Tims, it seems that the UK Government’s policy on the sale of asbestos-contaminated children’s products had undergone a remarkable shift from complacency to anger, with Kate Dearden, the minister for product safety, saying: “It is staggering toys are being sold with asbestos. We’re taking action with new measures to strengthen consumer protection and clamp down on irresponsible sellers... any products which test positive for asbestos are removed from sale and recalled.” See: Dozens of toys recalled in the UK after asbestos found in play sand.

Work at a building in Badhoevedorp, a town in the Western Netherlands, was stopped at the end of March, 2026 by the Dutch Labour Inspectorate as a result of complaints about working conditions and a report by the FNV – the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation. Inspectors found that asbestos had been illegally removed and that workers had not been provided with protective clothing or respiratory protection equipment. As the dutyholder, the owner of the building was responsible for ensuring compliance with all health and safety regulations. The owner was named as the offending party in the case and a penalty report is expected. See: Illegale asbestsanering in Badhoevedorp [Illegal asbestos removal in Badhoevedorp].

Amongst the 500+ names on the Asbestos Memorial Wall in Clydebank, Scotland is that of Christine Jardine’s Mother: Agnes (Nessie). In a recent commentary in The Scotsman newspaper Jardine, the MP for Edinburgh West, cited official data about the UK’s asbestos death toll and remembered going to the victims’ support group, Clydeside Action on Asbestos (CAA), with her Mum, who had been exposed to asbestos during her time working in the office of John Brown shipyard. “As we walked in (to CAA), she was greeted by the man who had been the yard’s shop steward. They had shared their working lives and now the condition which would take their lives.” See: Why Clydebank has one of the world’s worst records for asbestos-related diseases.

A fine of $22,460 for asbestos infringements by the U.S. Postal Service at its Kenton Station facility in Portland, Oregon was upheld on March 16, 2026 and made public on April 20. The prosecution was brought by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for four violations related to asbestos training, housekeeping and hazard communication requirements at the facility. A sample of material taken near the women’s restroom contained 13% chrysotile (white) asbestos. See: Postal service loses OSHA appeal over asbestos hazards at Oregon facility.

According to new data provided to mark International Workers Memorial Day, there are 10,000 new cases of asbestos-related disease diagnosed in Italy every year and 7,000 deaths. Despite a national asbestos ban which was implemented in 1992, asbestos-containing material remains prevalent in both the built and natural environment. Regional asbestos hotspots are Lombardy (2.000 deaths/year). Piedmont (~1,000), Emilia-Romagna (~650), Liguria (600+) and Lazio (~500). See: L’amianto miete ancora 7000 vittime ogni anno, emergenza senza fine in Italia: queste sono le Regioni più esposte alla fibra killer [Asbestos still claims 7,000 victims each year, a never-ending emergency in Italy: these are the regions most exposed to the killer fiber].

According to a survey by Greenpeace Austria, remediation work was carried out at almost all the sites previously identified as being contaminated with asbestos in Lower Austria (northeastern Austria), but hardly any work had been undertaken at toxic sites in Burgenland and Styria, in southeastern Austria. Greenpeace is calling on the state governments of Burgenland and Styria to introduce phased asbestos eradication programs prioritizing work at especially sensitive locations. See: Greenpeace überprüft Asbest-Fundorte: Niederösterreich handelt, Burgenland und Steiermark nicht [Greenpeace checks asbestos sites: Lower Austria takes action, Burgenland and Styria do not].

Public and political outrage is growing over the use of 100,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated gravel in road construction work in Szombathely, western Hungary. According to the local Mayor Nemény András large quantities of the contaminated material came from Austrian quarries without any notification. Due to the cost and disruption of removing the toxic material, the City is considering proposals to seal the contaminated surfaces using a protective covering and additional road surfacing. See: Hungarian city faces health risk after asbestos-linked gravel traced to Austrian quarries.

On April 24, 2026, another UK recall was issued for a playset sold under the Galt brand name; the James Galt company markets high-end educational toys worldwide. The toxic product was a nature craft kit. According to the recall, the product presented “a risk to health as the sand may be contaminated with a small quantity of asbestos.” It was made in China and was sold by UK retailers including John Lewis, Hobbycraft, Toy Master and Garden Centres between 2024 and April 2026. See: Product Recall: for Galt Nature Craft Kit presenting a risk to health.

In the Dutch municipality of Almere, steps are being taken to encourage citizens to eradicate the asbestos hazard by removing toxic roofing. The city embraced a multi-faceted “neighborhood-oriented approach” and offered subsidies and free removal services for remediation work to local people. A March 2026 evaluation of the project showed that 90% of the homeowners with asbestos roofs and 99% of the owners of sheds and carports contacted opted to have their asbestos roofs removed. A total of ~500 asbestos roofs were remediated and replaced in Almere over two years. See: Gemeenteraadslid David de Vreede: ‘Asbestdaken aanpakken? Je bent gek als je het niet doet’ [City Councillor David de Vreede: ‘Tackling asbestos roofs? You'd be crazy not to’].

The death on April 20, 2026 of Tony Worthington, a former MP for Clydebank and Milngavie, was reported to Parliament on April 23 by Douglas McAllister, the MP for West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. In his tribute McAllister said: “Over 18 years in this House, he championed many causes, not least the campaign to secure compensation for victims of asbestos-related illness and their families after the collapse of Chester Street Insurance Holdings. He was victorious in that fight.” Many of us who worked with him on that campaign remember his leadership qualities, good nature and charming company. He will be sadly missed. See: Hansard. April 23, 2026. Tribute paid by Scottish MP Douglas McAllister (West Dunbartonshire) (Lab) to former Clydebank MP Tony Worthington.

A recent peer-reviewed paper which appeared in the BMC Pulmonary Medicine Journal considered three cases of pleural mesothelioma diagnosed in Lebanon. What I found of particular interest in the text was a reference to Eternit, a global asbestos conglomerate that caused death and destruction the world over. On page three it was reported that 22 cases of pleural mesothelioma “were diagnosed at Hôtel-Dieu de France Hospital between 1991 and 2000, with clear evidence of asbestos exposure from the Eternit factory located in Chekka – North Lebanon.” See: Diagnosis and management of pleural mesothelioma: three unique cases and review of the literature.

On April 23, 2026, officials in the Canadian city of Regina announced an official enquiry into the fast-tracking of asbestos-cement (AC) pipes in the public water delivery system; the results of the investigation are expected by the end of the year. It is believed that Regina has between 531km and 600km of AC pipes. According to campaigner Julian Branch “The asbestos is getting into the water, that poses a concern because the research will show that ingested asbestos passes through the gastrointestinal tract…” See: Regina will explore fast-tracking removal of asbestos-cement water pipes.

After “magic sand” products were recalled in Switzerland due to the discovery of asbestos contamination, the same products were voluntarily recalled by the retailer – moses. Verlag GmbH, a German publishing company. Tests undertaken in Germany confirmed that “a very small amount [of asbestos] could now be detected in a certain batch.” Consumers were advised not to use the products and return them to a recycling center or the retailer where they were purchased. See: Asbest in „magischem Sand“ für Kinder entdeckt [Asbestos discovered in “magic sand” for children].

On April 24. 2026, the Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority (MCCAA) issued a public warning after asbestos was found inside a Pufferz Puffer sand toy. The toys were recalled from sale with immediate effect pursuant to an order of the MCCAA’s Technical Regulations Division. Consumers were urged to stop using the contaminated items and return them to retailers for a full refund. Market surveillance by the MCCAA will continue to ensure the safety of products being sold in Malta. See: Consumer Authority recalls sand toy due to asbestos contamination.

A landmark was achieved last month by Maurizio Nerini, a former electrician of the State Railways, who obtained the highest compensation ever awarded for an asbestos-related disease in the Italian city of Pistoia. In 2017, the claimant joined the asbestos disease prevention program of the Tuscany Region: ANMIL Pistoia. After his mesothelioma diagnosis, ANMIL supported Nerini’s compensation claim and secured a historic verdict, which was believed to be worth several hundred thousand euros. See: Ammalato per l’amianto. Maxi risarcimento per un ex ferroviere [Sick from asbestos. Huge compensation for a former railway worker].

In an open letter to UK Minister Kate Dearden which was uploaded today (May 1), representatives of UK asbestos victim support groups, campaigning organizations and asbestos cancer charities expressed concern about government delays in addressing the health hazard posed by the import of sand, playsets and stretchy toys contaminated with asbestos. News of a recent EU trade mission to China to discuss the need to remove “dangerous toys from the market before they reach children…” was reported. “In 2026, there is,” the letter concluded “no excuse for the sale of carcinogenic children’s toys in the UK.” [Read full article]

On April 15, 2026, the Asbestos Sub-Group of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health held a two-hour event entitled Asbestos: Protecting Tomorrow’s Victims, Protecting Today’s Patients in the House of Commons. Each of the presentations constituted a vital part in creating a panorama of ongoing national asbestos challenges. From the lived experiences of a mesothelioma sufferer, to the legal torture of securing compensation, to the battle for timely and state-of-the-art medical care, to the solutions for eradicating the asbestos hazard, each subject was succinctly, straightforwardly and sympathetically explained. [Read full article]

The fallout from the import of asbestos-contaminated toys from China continues, with a huge range of responses from national regulators. While some acted promptly to protect children, others remained in denial about the hazard. Oversight protocols introduced prior to the explosion of e-commerce trade via online marketplaces were blamed for the loopholes through which dangerous items were allowed to enter retail product streams. Earlier this month, an EU delegation to China discussed what needs to be done “to ensure companies are held accountable when rules are not followed.” [Read full article]

On April 2, 2026 a news release was featured on the website of the Building and Wood Workers’ International which expressed the serious concerns of dozens of civil society groups about foreign intervention in the democratic process to derail well-established plans to end asbestos import and use in Malaysia. The global mouthpiece representing asbestos vested interests – the International Chrysotile Association (ICA) – was accused of “once again attempting to hijack our national policy” and subvert work to implement national prohibitions. “Banning asbestos is,” the text said “fundamentally a matter of national interest… Our fate and our health must be decided by Malaysians, for Malaysians. Leave no room for the asbestos industry to dictate our future.” [Read full article]

On April 2, 2026, 300 delegates convened in Cambodia’s capital for a government-sponsored consultation to examine the country’s strategy for implementing asbestos prohibitions. Central to the discussions was a 60-page publication launched at the meeting: the Economic Impact Assessment Related to the Use of Asbestos (EIA). To this end, one of the EIA’s authors was in attendance to answer questions. The Executive Summary of the EIA was uncompromising in its findings: “The economic assessment of a proposed ban on asbestos containing materials and raw asbestos fibres was found to be economically viable, with the health benefits from avoided disease far outweighing the cost of implementation and transition by a ratio of 4:1, even under conservative assumptions.” [Read full article]

A timely and informative article by Merlin Chowkwanyun, PhD, MPH from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York City has been reproduced on this website with the author’s blessing. The text reported a rare retraction by The Lancet, “one of the oldest and most prestigious academic journals,” of an unsigned 1997 commentary that discounted the hazard posed by the use of personal hygiene products contaminated with asbestos. The disavowal of the commentary resulted from a discovery made by American researchers – Gerald Markowitz and David Rosner – who were able to provide evidence showing that the contentious text had been written by a consultant paid by Johnson & Johnson, who had shared the draft with company officials and made changes based on their comments. [Read full article]

On January 23 2026, the Canadian government uploaded a 64-page document entitled: Draft Guidance on Asbestos in Drinking Water at the start of a 60-day public consultation process. Interested stakeholders were invited to submit comments before March 24, 2026. The joint submission by Prevent Cancer Now, Canadian Environmental Law Association and Friends of the Earth Canada is informative not only about the current situation in Canada but also has implications for people in many other jurisdictions who are dealing with the adverse fallout from the continuing use of deteriorating asbestos-cement water pipes. We are very grateful for the permission received to upload this document. [Read full article]

For the first time since 1950, annual global asbestos production fell to less than a million tonnes in 2024. This was not a blip, as the low level of production was repeated the following year. Dwindling global output generates less money for propaganda campaigns, international love-ins and aggressive political lobbying by asbestos stakeholders. Industry-funded bodies, such as the International Chrysotile Association, are hanging on by their fingertips; many of these industry fronts have been dissolved or disappeared. The simple chart featured in this article is an accurate and useful depiction of the truth denied by vested interests: the asbestos industry is terminal. The sooner the plug is pulled, the better. [Read full article]

Like pretty much every other country, Britain has a lethal asbestos legacy which continues to endanger the lives of its citizens. Our public buildings, water delivery systems and homes were not only built with asbestos but also currently contain articles contaminated by it such as imported children’s toys, hygiene products and make-up sets. Whilst some of the consequences of toxic exposures have been quantified, others remain unrecognized and unacknowledged. The hazard posed by children playing with craft and play-sand sets and stretchy rubber figures that contain chrysotile and/or tremolite asbestos fibers is extremely concerning. [Read full article]

Late last year, news began circulating about asbestos contamination of imported children’s playsets in Australia and New Zealand. Every day seemed to bring news of more discoveries and school closures. As concurrent recalls were issued by Canberra and Wellington, in Britain and elsewhere the sale of the toxic products continued. By February, a few European governments were acknowledging the hazard and one or two were actually taking action. No coverage of this scandal has been seen in media reports from North or Latin America or Asia, with the exception of Japan. Of course, we don’t know if these contaminated play sand sets and figurines were exported there but given the carcinogenicity of asbestos and the fact that these products are used by children wouldn’t it be better to be sure? [Read full article]

The repercussions of discoveries made in Australia and New Zealand in November 2025, have been reverberating around the globe ever since. Whilst the speed with which countries engaged with the scientific findings varied, there was no denying the public concern over asbestos contamination of craft and kinetic sand products and other toys. A commentary by Asbestos Consultant & Occupational Hygienist Benjamin Alford from Auckland, New Zealand provided clear-cut explanations and graphic images to demystify the key issues involved. Concluding his text, Aflord noted: “The long-term win isn’t more headlines; it’s better upstream control, better method selection, and fewer families learning what ‘tremolite’ means from a recall notice.” [Read full article]

The well-known phrase in the article title is attributed to the 19th century British statesman William Gladstone. These words have been ringing in my ears since February 11, 2026 when I heard the latest news in the long-running battle for justice by Italian asbestos victims. Although the Swiss asbestos billionaire Stephan Schmidheiny was found guilty for the asbestos deaths of hundreds of Italians by lower and appeal courts, in 2014 & 2025 the Supreme Court quashed the convictions on technical grounds. This month, a 2025 guilty verdict was sent back to Turin with an order to have the 600+ page judgment translated into German, the defendant’s mother tongue. According to campaigner Nicola Pondrano, who is still reeling from this decision: “The sense of injustice and the bitterness felt by the whole community is immense.” [Read full article]

The existence of abandoned mining towns is a reality in many parts of the world where hordes of adventurers had once sought riches from wealth-giving gold, silver and other minerals. Two such communities, built on asbestos hopes and fueled by asbestos profits, were Cassiar, Canada and Wittenoom, Australia. Once the seams of asbestos no longer proved viable, the towns built around them were redundant. Comparing the histories of Cassiar and Wittenoom revealed both similarities and differences in the lived experiences of workers and their families as well as the deadly consequences of the time spent in the toxic towns. [Read full article]

In December 2025, Dr Helen Clayson had the opportunity to visit the Archives and Special Collections department in the Andersonian Library, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow to peruse some of the material in its asbestos archives. With the help of assistant archivist Rachael Jones, Dr Clayson examined historical documents, industry reports and revealing photographs. This material, she reported, helps “us to understand how a major public health issue took so long to come to attention and for victims to be recognised, supported and financially compensated.” [Read full article]

The Saturday, January 24, 2026 issue of The Guardian newspaper ran a story entitled Asbestos found in children’s play sand sold in UK, which confirmed that asbestos-contaminated colored sand had been sold in the UK by the nationwide chain Hobbycraft. The company withdrew the product from its shelves but did not recall it, saying that there had been no government warning. A Westminster spokesperson criticized Hobbycraft’s half measures, saying “there’s no good reason why Hobbycraft shouldn’t recall this themselves, given the evidence;” whilst the Department for Business and Trade resorted to its standard rhetoric defending the country’s “robust product safety laws” and “strict criteria.” You couldn’t make it up! [Read full article]

An exposé screened by Italy’s public broadcaster RAI on Sunday January 4, 2026 refocused national attention on a scandal which had been festering for decades: the failure of the Italian authorities to hold to account people responsible for a national epidemic of avoidable ill-health and premature deaths. While there is no proof that the offers made by international powerbrokers revealed on the program were either realized or responsible for the Supreme Court’s contentious decision in 2014 to overturn Stephan Schmidheiny’s convictions over asbestos deaths caused by his Italian operations, the public most definitely has a right to know why the Court took that action. With another Supreme Court asbestos decision on the horizon, clarity from the Court is a matter of some urgency. [Read full article]

Latest Articles:    click titles twice for full article

Topics:

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.

From Article: