Asbestos: Lombardy Awaits Emergency Plan to Accelerate Remediation
World Day for Victims of Asbestos on April 28 drew renewed attention to the asbestos issue, with the World Health Organization estimating more than 200,000 deaths annually worldwide. In Italy, about 10,000 new cases and 7,000 deaths are recorded each year, and in Lombardy the death toll surpasses 2,000 per year, including around 500 cases of mesothelioma and over 1,000 lung cancers, with exposures still present in homes, schools, public buildings, and infrastructure across the region.
On the same day, authorities highlighted regional remediation incentives—up to 60% subsidies for private individuals, and a regional plan worth 11.5 million euros for public buildings with coverage up to 100% and up to 350,000 euros per intervention—while national INAIL calls cover up to 65%. However, the speed of asbestos removals remains deemed insufficient. Ezio Bonanni, president of the Osservatorio Nazionale Amianto, called for an extraordinary accelerated plan and urged regional authorities and local communities to act to address ongoing risk.
Italian Version