News Archive

Following hot on the heels of the discovery of asbestos in colored sand products used by children in Australia and New Zealand, came news that asbestos has been found in lift brake pads used across Australia by the energy company Goldwind Australia, a subsidiary of Chinese firm Xinjiang Goldwind Science and Technology Co. Ltd. The brake pads were sourced from 3S Industry, a major Chinese-based supplier to Australia. According to a Goldwind spokesperson: “A comprehensive material and air testing program is underway to check for asbestos in other spare brake pads and in wind turbines.” See: Asbestos found in wind farm lift brake pads prompts safety response.

Asbestos in Schools

Nov 28, 2025

On November 19, 2025, a coalition of concerned parents, teachers and staff filed a complaint over the asbestos contamination of 12 Marseille schools which constituted, they alleged, a “deliberate endangerment of the lives of others.” The petitioners were supported by 7 trade unions and 3 asbestos victims’ associations. It is believed that 80+% of French schools still contain asbestos, a substance banned in 1997. See: France/Amiante: plus de 50 personnes et syndicats portent plainte à Marseille [France/Asbestos: more than 50 people and unions file a complaint in Marseille].

Prosecution of Asbestos Fly-tipping

Nov 28, 2025

The illegal dumping of asbestos-containing building rubble and other construction waste was reported by the Volga Interregional Environmental Prosecutor's Office, Russia. The fly-tipping took place in the Alekseevsky ravine on the territory of the Kumysnaya Polyana nature preserve. The details of the case were under consideration by the investigating authority as per the provisions of Article 262 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. See: Aсбест, бетон, гипс, арматура: на «Кумысной поляне» устроили свалку, ущерб превысил 86 миллионов [Asbestos, concrete, gypsum, rebar: [illegal] landfill at Kumysnaya Polyana, the damage exceeded 86 million].

Fallout from Asbestos Scandal

Nov 28, 2025

Last week, officials from New Zealand’s Ministry of Education told schools that it was their responsibility to remediate premises where asbestos-contaminated sand had been used. Taking exception to this position the President of the NZEI Te Riu Roa – the “most powerful education union” in New Zealand – Ripeka Lessels said: “Not only is this a question of budget deficits, more importantly, it may divert funding away from essential supports to learning.” Principal Lynda Stuart of May Road School agreed: “The ministry should pay for remediation. Instead, they are leaving us in the lurch and making us deal with it all.” See: Union calls for government to cover costs of removing asbestos-tainted sand from schools.

Unions Call for Urgent Action

Nov 28, 2025

On November 21, 2025 Australian trade unions called “for an urgent overhaul of national asbestos health and safety laws to force employers to remove asbestos-containing materials from Australian workplaces, including schools.” Without such measures, the continued presence of deteriorating asbestos-containing material throughout the educational infrastructure would continue to cause deaths for decades to come. “Employers nationwide should,” said ACTU Assistant Secretary, Liam O’Brien “be required to develop a prioritised removal plan for all asbestos, and workers must have the right to act when their health is at risk.” See: Australia on track for more asbestos deaths, unions warn.

One Nation’s Asbestos Legacy

Nov 28, 2025

The thoughtful commentary cited below, which was uploaded on November 21, 2025, highlighted the deadly legacy posed by the presence of deteriorating asbestos-containing material throughout the UK’s built environment. The author of this text, Martin Guttridge-Hewitt, called on the government to acknowledge the toxic situation and take steps to actively address the very real threat posed to workers and members of the public by asbestos in schools, hospitals, council premises, workplaces, etc. See: Safe spaces: the insidious legacy of asbestos in UK public buildings.

Union Calls for Full Asbestos Ban

Nov 24, 2025

On November 10, 2025, The Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI), a Global Union Federation representing 12 million workers in 117 countries, issued a position paper recommitting itself to the ban of all asbestos-containing materials. In the new document, the BWI called on the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – a member of the World Bank Group and “the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets” – to “prohibit all investments in asbestos, removing its exemption for bonded asbestos materials.” See: Prohibit all asbestos-bonded materials from IFC-invested projects.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: New Data

Nov 24, 2025

A team of 32 scientists from throughout Italy, in collaboration with a Dutch colleague from Utrecht, published the paper cited below on November 17, 2025 in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Having examined data from Italy’s National Mesothelioma Registry for the period 2000–2021, the authors confirmed the link between occupational asbestos exposure in Italy and peritoneal mesothelioma. Concluding the paper, they reported that: “Peritoneal mesothelioma showed clear associations with asbestos exposure using different exposure assessment methods.” See: Peritoneal mesothelioma and asbestos exposure: a population-based case–control study in Italy, 2000–2021.

Asbestos Hazard Alert!

Nov 24, 2025

On November 12, 2025, a spokesperson for New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment confirmed that a voluntary recall had been issued, “as a precautionary measure,” for EC Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) and Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg) products over suspicions that they could contain asbestos fibers. Testing by Australian authorities of similar products had confirmed the presence of the carcinogen in colored sand products sold for use by primary school children. See: Recall of EC Rainbow Sand and Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1.3kg) due to potential asbestos contamination.

Asbestos in Schools

Nov 24, 2025

On November 17, 2025, Gwangju City Council member Choi Ji-hyun informed members of the Gwangju City Council, South Korea of her concerns over ongoing delays in the implimentation of the municipal asbestos eradication program for schools by Gwangju’s Metropolitan Office of Education. She said that a lack of funding was threatening the well-being of students as well as staff who were still being exposed to asbestos material present in schools. See: 최지현 시의원 "학교 석면 방치…'안전 후순위' 예산 관행 재검토해야" [City Council Member Choi Ji-hyun: “Asbestos is neglected in schools… We need to reexamine the ‘safety-secondary’ budgeting practice”].

Post-Disaster Asbestos Assessment

Nov 24, 2025

More than two years after asbestos exposures took place in the aftermath of a fire at a blast furnace operated by steelmaker ArcelorMittal in Dunkirk, France, the labor inspectorate reported that toxic exposures had been experienced by 308 employees of the company and 85 workers from five external companies. A full report was submitted to Dunkirk’s public prosecutor "with a view to possible criminal prosecution.” See: Près de 400 travailleurs ont été exposés à l’amiante chez ArcelorMittal à Dunkerque, selon l’inspection du travail [Nearly 400 workers were exposed to asbestos at ArcelorMittal in Dunkirk, according to the labour inspectorate].

Asbestos Protest in Pohang City

Nov 24, 2025

On November 18, 2025, parents of children attending a high school in Pohang City, South Korea mounted a protest and held a press conference to express anxiety over the scheduling of asbestos removal work at the school: part of the decontamination program was due to be carried out during September-October, thereby endangering students and staff. The parents’ concerns were supported by members of the Pohang Environmental Movement Alliance, the Environmental Health Citizen Center, and the Korea Asbestos Removal Network who also attended the rally. See: “포항제철고 학기 중 석면 공사 중단하고 안전 대책 수립하라” [“Stop asbestos construction during Pohang Steel High School semester and establish safety measures”].

Wittenoom: The Way Ahead?

Nov 20, 2025

Australia’s Banjima people, the traditional owners of the land on which the abandoned Wittenoom blue asbestos (crocidolite) mine is located, “have the highest per capita incidence of mesothelioma in the world.” Despite years of negotiations with the West Australian (WA) government, there are no plans to decontaminate the land despoiled by years of asbestos mining. Representatives of the Banjima people, who met with the WA Premier in September 2025, gave the Government until the end of the year to come up with a plan before legal action was taken. The clock is ticking. See: Renowned lawyer returns to Wittenoom asbestos case that changed his life.

Further Remediation in Casale Monferrato

Nov 20, 2025

Italy’s Ministry of the Environment has allocated a further €2.5 million (US$2.9m) to pay for the remediation of sites downstream from the former asbestos-cement factory owned by Eternit S.A. in Casale Monferrato. Although the industrial site was decontaminated previously, asbestos waste dumped by Eternit along the Lanza canal remains in place. The program to remediate and restore the land will be carried out jointly by State, Regional and local authorities. See: A Casale altri 2 milioni e mezzo di euro per bonificare il polverino di amianto [In Casale, another 2.5 million euros will be spent on asbestos dust removal].

Asbestos Recall for Children’s Product

Nov 20, 2025

On November 12, 2025, Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) published a recall notice for children’s sand products sold by various retailers including Officeworks between 2020 and 2025. The multi-colored sand products were recalled “because they may contain tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos, which was detected in some samples after laboratory testing.” The news of the ACCC’s action spread like wildfire in Australia as well as New Zealand and scores of schools were closed as a precautionary measure. See: Customers warned of recalled children’s sand due to asbestos risks.

Rising Number of Asbestos Claims

Nov 20, 2025

According to the report “UK Asbestos – The Definitive Guide” by the Faculty & Institute of Actuaries: “UK. employers and insurers will face up to 200,000 asbestos-related liability claims by 2040, with an economic impact of up to £20 billion” (~$26 billion). In the article cited below, the author Peta Miller reported that the number of asbestos-related claims “increased sharply over the past several years.” While there were 3,000 asbestos claims in 1993, in 2002 and 2003 there were, respectively, 6,000 and 10,000 claims. These figures were based on data sourced from employers’ liability and general liability policies held by 15 major UK insurance companies. [Note: the cited document has some typo errors in pound to dollar conversions.] See: Asbestos claims to soar in U.K., report forecasts.

Mesothelioma Data: Update

Nov 20, 2025

In a paper published on November 10, 2025 in BMC Public Health – a peer-reviewed science journal covering epidemiology and issues related to public health – Belgian researchers reported that the mesothelioma incidence had risen since the 1970s and was, in recent years, stable at 300 cases/year. Unfortunately, “the overall incidence of mesothelioma in Belgium shows no signs of decline.” Even though rates are decreasing amongst younger cohorts, they are increasing in older age groups. The coauthors of the paper highlighted the need to improve the provision of compensation for the injured. See: Update on mesothelioma incidence and forecast of future cases in Belgium.

Supporting Asbestos Patients

Nov 20, 2025

In 2025, 90 South Korea patients with asbestos-related diseases from Seoul, Gyeonggi, Daejeon, Chungnam and elsewhere were invited to take part in healing camps on October 27-28 and November 4-5. The retreats were designed to “promote mental and physical stability and positive outlooks for the asbestos victims.” Information was provided during the sessions on the management of asbestos-related diseases as well as on a range of government benefits and programs. See: Suncheonhyang University Cheonan Hospital Completion of Healing Camp for Emotional Recovery of Asbestos Victims.

Trade Union’s Asbestos Alert

Nov 17, 2025

Last week, New Zealand’s firefighters’ union reported that asbestos had been found in an air tank used by members of the emergency services. The supply tank had “tested positive for a ‘very small level’ of asbestos,” during investigations undertaken in Auckland. According to an online statement from the Professional Firefighters’ Union: “This news will be very distressing for many firefighters who now have the uncertainty of the safety of their Bas (breathing apparatus) potentially filled using this sample bulk air tank prior to 2023.” See: Asbestos found in breathing equipment 'distressing' for firefighters, union says.

Good News, Bad News

Nov 17, 2025

Commenting on disappointing financial news, Zimbabwe’s largest asbestos-cement building products’ manufacturer, Turnall Holdings, announced that it was planning to transition some of the manufacturing capacity at its Bulawayo plant to asbestos-free technology. According to Turnall’s Chairman Grenville Hampshire, a return to profit will be achieved by streamlining asbestos production processes and introducing a range of asbestos-free building products. See: Turnall Holdings optimistic of breakeven after major loss.

Calls for Cancer Screening in Scotland

Nov 17, 2025

As cancer experts, policymakers, patients and charities gathered at a meeting held at the Scottish Cancer Conference in Glasgow earlier this month, campaigners called on the Scottish government to “immediately roll out a targeted lung-cancer screening programme in a bid to diagnose cases earlier and improve survival rates for sufferers.” Currently, the majority of Scottish people with lung cancer were diagnosed at a later stage when treatment options were limited. As lung cancer screening for at-risk groups is being introduced in England, Scottish groups are calling on the Holyrood Government to also make this a priority. See: Campaigners demand critical national lung-cancer screening programme for lung cancer in Scotland.

Compulsory Asbestos Audits

Nov 17, 2025

On November 6, 2025, the Government of Wallonia announced plans to adopt a system currently operational in Flanders, another Belgian region, whereby an asbestos inventory will be mandatory for any property sale, rental or renovation work; property owners will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the new measures. These measures will, said the Minister of Environment and Health Yves Coppieters help facilitate the “sustainable control of asbestos-related risks in Wallonia.” Although asbestos use was banned decades ago, asbestos-containing materials remain throughout the region’s infrastructure. See: Un inventaire amiante bientôt obligatoire en Wallonie [Asbestos inventory to soon be mandatory in Wallonia].

Victim’s Verdict in Adelaide

Nov 17, 2025

A recent verdict by Tribunal Deputy President Judge Mark Calligeros of South Australia's Employment Tribunal awarded A$2.26 million (US$1.5m) in damages to a 61-year mesothelioma victim who was exposed to asbestos whilst employed at the Royal Adelaide Hospital as an electrician in 1991. The damages were awarded against the State of South Australia (80%) and the current incarnation of the James Hardie Company, Amaca (20%). See: Former RAH electrician to receive $2.26 million asbestos cancer damages claim.

Asbestos at Hospital

Nov 17, 2025

Confirming the link between occupational asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, a court in Rome issued a victim’s verdict for the family of a mesothelioma patient who died in 2009 after having been exposed to asbestos whilst employed at the Anzio Military Hospital. The Ministry of Defense was ordered to pay €750,000 (US$870,000) in damages to the family of the deceased for having failed to implement precautions to prevent workplace asbestos exposures. See: Amianto nel Policlinico Militare di Anzio: nuova condanna del Tribunale di Roma al Ministero della Difesa [Asbestos at the Anzio Military Hospital: Rome Court Responds to Ministry of Defense].

Supporting NI Mesothelioma Patients

Nov 13, 2025

A new service to support mesothelioma patients in Northern Ireland (NI) – the Northern Ireland Regional Mesothelioma Service – will improve access to specialist support. This collaborative initiative is a result of a partnership between Mesothelioma UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, local clinicians, and the family of Tony Rodgers who died from mesothelioma in Newry, Co Down on January 1, 2022. The care will be provided across NI by nurses Stephanie Todd and Carol Johnston based at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. See: New cancer service launches to support mesothelioma patients in Northern Ireland.