Asbestos has been banned in Germany for more than a decade. But the
dangerous toxin has made a comeback all due to a legal loophole.
Asbestos is mainly used to insulate buildings. It was used in many
schools and office buildings. The toxic fibre can lead to a type of lung
cancer called asbestosis.
The illness kills more than a hudred thousand people each year.
Although it has been recognized as an occupational illness, many victims
struggle to get employers and insurers to accept it for what it is. Now
asbestos is back, due to a legal exemption that allowes the import and
trade of Canadian asbestos. But the deadly mineral is also used in some
Chinese products, such as flasks and sealing rings that are exported to
Germany.
