Marseille Schools Face Legal Action Over Asbestos Exposure Endangering Health

In Marseille, over 50 parents, teachers, and municipal agents have filed a complaint on November 19 alleging 'deliberate endangerment of others' due to asbestos exposure in twelve local schools, primarily within Marseille. This collective legal action is supported by seven unions and three victim associations, highlighting widespread concerns about asbestos risks in educational institutions built before the 1997 asbestos ban. Lawyer Julie Andreu pointed out that many school buildings still have asbestos-containing materials, exacerbated by their deteriorating conditions and inadequate safety measures by local authorities.

The collective Stop Amiante Éducation criticized the lack of transparency and insufficient protections during renovations, with tragic consequences including recent deaths from asbestos-related cancers. A 2014 report from the High Council for Public Health estimates between 50,000 and 75,000 future deaths from asbestos-related lung cancer and up to 25,000 from mesothelioma by 2050.

This legal action underscores serious failings in managing asbestos risks in the Bouches-du-Rhône region's schools, raising important questions about public health and the safety of children and school staff in Marseille’s aging educational facilities.