Asbestos News

A French judge is currently investigating whether members of a government committee focused on asbestos are responsible for certain deaths related to the substance.

For part of the 1980s and 1990s, France's government relied on le comite permanent amiante (CPA) (the Permanent Committee on Asbestos) for its asbestos policy. According to some, the CPA was a thinly veiled asbestos lobbyist group and it appears that now some members of the committee may have to answer for their deeds.

Judge Marie-Odile Bertella-Geffroy is reportedly investigating CPA executive Jean-Pierre Hulot, civil servant Dominique Moyen, lobbyist Daniel Bouige and Arnaud Peirani, with the Ministry of Industry, for "involuntary homicide and injuries" related to their work to stop the banning of asbestos.

Asbestos has been proven since the mid-1960s to cause a number of serious diseases such as malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. However, that has not stopped industry groups from erroneously claiming that the substance can be used safely.

The work of these individuals has put the lives of millions of people at risk as asbestos was not banned when it should have been.

Canada is another country that has seen a number of asbestos lobbyists argue for the continuing use of asbestos but they have been met with a large public outcry.