Asbestos Online Nightmare
Whilst researching an article entitled: Report from the Asbestos Frontline: Summer 2026 earlier this month,1 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%.2
Based on historic data obtained from US sources – and of course the composition of products sourced from outlets outside the US could well differ – the typical asbestos contents of asbestos fabric, rope, cord, tape and gloves are indicated below (as percentages by weight):
- asbestos fabric: the various products made up of this material contain between 75% to 100%
- asbestos rope: various grades range from 75% to 100%;3
- asbestos cord: while some specialty cords may contain as little as 2% asbestos, the standard composition is from 70% to 100%;
- asbestos tape: typically contains from 75% to 100%;
- asbestos gloves: these specialty items contain in excess of 80%.
The problem with the items listed above is not just their high asbestos fiber content but also their capacity to release fibers. When these products are crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder the carcinogenic fibers will readily become airborne. For this reason, they are classified as highly dangerous.
Despite a global consensus that exposures to all types of asbestos fiber can be harmful to human health, industry stakeholders argue that asbestos-cement products can be used safely as the carcinogenic fibers are tightly encapsulated within a matrix which prevents them from becoming airborne. Even the most dyed-in-the-wool asbestophile would never say the same about the products shown in the pictures below.
 A wide variety of asbestos-containing material is available on Amazon, India. |
With the help of colleagues in Malaysia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Indonesia and India, an investigation of online portals such as Amazon and Indiamart, India, Instagram and Tokopedia Indonesia, Rozetka and Prom, Ukraine, Ozon, Belarus, Ozon Russia, Ozon Kazakhstan, Shoppee, Malaysia, Wildberries, Tajikistan, Lazada, Vietnam, and Shoppee and Lazada Philippines was conducted in June and July 2026. In none of the advertisements we saw were there warnings about the hazards posed by use of these products.
As can be seen from the photos below, the asbestos trade in Asia and Eastern Europe is flourishing.
Asbestos Fabric
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| Wildberries, Tajikistan |
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| Wildberries, Tajikistan |
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| Ozon, Kazakhstan |
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| Lazada, Philippines |
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| Tokopedia, Indonesia |
Asbestos Rope and Cord
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| Ozon, Belarus |
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| Ozon, Kazakhstan |
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| Ozon, Belarus |
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| Ozon, Kazakhstan |
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| Ozon, Kazakhstan |
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| Wildberries, Tajikistan |
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| Lazada, Thailand |
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| Ozon, Russia |
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| Shoppee, Malaysia |
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| Shoppee, Malaysia |
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| Lazada, Vietnam |
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| Lazada, Philippines |
Asbestos Gloves
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| Lazada, Vietnam |
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| Tokopedia, Indonesia |
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| Indiamart, India |
Commenting on these findings, Clinical Professor of Public Health Dr Arthur Frank said:
“Having worked in India and elsewhere in southeast Asia, I am well aware that there are significant numbers of asbestos-related cancers in the region. There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos material, with even one day of exposure causing cancer. All asbestos-related diseases are totally preventable when all use is stopped. The continuing sale of these products should be of concern; with safer alternatives available, asbestos material could and should be withdrawn from the marketplace.
August 3, 2026
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1 Kazan-Allen, L. Report from the Asbestos Frontline: Summer 2026. July 15, 2026.
https://ibasecretariat.org/lka-report-from-the-asbestos-frontline-summer-2026.php
2 The most common use of asbestos fiber is for the production of asbestos-cement building products which generally contain 10-15% asbestos fiber by weight with 85-90% cement. The focus of this article is products which contain a higher percentage of asbestos.
3 According to the information from the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM): “the highest grades and certain specialty ropes are made from pure asbestos fiber (100%).”
