The War on Asbestos

Many companies use asbestos materials in construction due to its unique qualities, such as its strength and resistance to heat (as mentioned in the reading), but primarily due to its low cost. However, from its airborne fibrous nature, it has been evaluated as a known carcinogen linked to rare types of cancer, such as mesothelioma. This article reports on a recent court judgment against a Swiss construction company, who failed to prevent the containment of asbestos fibers that killed or injured up to 6,300 people in Casale Monferrato. This ruling is the first of its kind in Italy and is being seen as "truly historic". For the people of Casale Monferrato, justice has been served in the War on Asbestos.