From Newsgroup: comp.os.linux.advocacy

"Green Fiasco: Asbestos Discovered in 1,000 UK Wind Turbines Imported
from China"

<https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2026/06/22/green-fiasco-asbestos- discovered-in-1000-uk-wind-turbines-imported-from-china/>

"Asbestos has been found in at least 1,000 wind turbines throughout the
UK after components containing the banned substance were imported from
China, sparking concerns about worker safety and prompting calls for a government investigation.

The Times reports that the hazardous material was discovered in brake components used in lifts and hoists within 1,000 wind turbines in the UK.
The parts are believed to have originated from third-party Chinese
suppliers and contain chrysotile, a form of white asbestos that has been completely prohibited in the United Kingdom since November 1999. British
law makes it illegal to buy, sell, or export any materials containing
this substance. The GMB trade union has formally contacted the UK
government and the Health and Safety Executive requesting a comprehensive account of the cleanup operation that is currently underway.

Louise Gilmour, the secretary of GMB Scotland, expressed strong concerns
about the situation. “Every one of the contracts sent abroad as operators chase the bottom line has cost our country jobs and apprenticeships. To discover we have been exporting skilled work while importing asbestos
beggars belief,” Gilmour stated. “Our country banned asbestos decades ago because it was killing workers and their families, but we now pay for it
to be ferried here from the other side of the world and then pay again to remove it? We deserve to be told exactly how this happened and what is
being be done to prevent it happening again.”

There is no indication that the lift suppliers or wind farm operators
were aware of the asbestos presence in the components at the time of installation. The discovery appears to have been made during routine inspections or maintenance activities, though the exact circumstances of
how the contamination was identified have not been disclosed.

The Energy Institute, which serves as the membership body for
professionals working in the energy sector, has confirmed its awareness
of the issue and provided details about the current status of the contamination. According to the organization, industry reporting to date suggests that the asbestos, where present, remains confined within sealed brake housings. The institute indicated that the material is encapsulated
and non-friable, meaning it is not generating airborne fibers under
normal operating conditions.

The Energy Institute stated that it has been coordinating with member companies to share data with the Health and Safety Executive. The
organization is also engaging with lift manufacturers and turbine
original equipment manufacturers to confirm replacement components and establish safe change-out methodologies for removing the contaminated
parts.

In its statement, the Energy Institute sought to reassure workers and the public about current safety levels. “At present, there is no indication
of worker health risk, and no evidence of wrongdoing by turbine
operators,” the organization said.

Asbestos was widely used in construction and manufacturing throughout
much of the twentieth century due to its fire-resistant properties and durability. However, exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to
serious health conditions including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and
asbestosis. The UK began restricting certain types of asbestos in the
1980s, with chrysotile being the last form to be banned in 1999.

The discovery of asbestos in wind turbine components highlights ongoing concerns about the importation of materials from countries with different regulatory standards. While China has restricted some uses of asbestos,
it has not implemented the comprehensive bans that exist in the UK and
many other Western nations.

The cleanup operation now underway will involve carefully removing and replacing the contaminated brake components while taking precautions to prevent exposure to asbestos fibers. Such operations typically require specialized contractors trained in asbestos handling and disposal, adding
to the cost and complexity of addressing the problem."
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