Justice recognizes that the death of José María Íñigo was related to the asbestos in Prado del Rey

A ruling from the Social Court number 2 of Madrid determines that the presenter's cancer was caused by breathing asbestos fibers released from the soundproofing material in the RTVE studios in Prado del Rey.

After years of litigation, justice has finally ruled in favor of the family of José María Íñigo, ruling that his wife's widow's pension derives from a occupational disease due to exposure to asbestos Studio 1 in Prado del Rey RTVE, from which the historic presenter hosted numerous programs such as Very direct, Fantastic o Open Studio, between the years 1975, 1976, 1978 to 1981 and 1982 to 1985.

In the ruling, the chief magistrate of the Social Court number 2 of Madrid upholds the lawsuit filed by Íñigo's heirs and points out that there are "solid elements" to affirm that the presenter's death, which took place in 2018, was a consequence of exposure to asbestos during the first stage of his professional relationship with RTVE.

Exposure to the mineral asbestos used in construction, according to the ruling, led to the subsequent development and within the latency period of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancerous tumor with a “very important” relationship with exposure to asbestos, of which he was diagnosed in 2016, and which was the cause of death.

Asbestos is a friable material so it is reduced to dust very easily. Therefore, according to the ruling, it was susceptible to releasing fibers throughout the study as a result of shocks, vibrations or air circulation itself.

The process was initiated by José María Íñigo himself before he died and was continued by his family who filed a lawsuit against the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation, Mutua Fraternidad Muprespa, National Institute of Social Security and Spanish Broadcasting Society.

Asbestos was used in the 70s and 80s in different Prado del Rey facilities as acoustic insulation elements. After its harmful effect as a carcinogenic agent on health was confirmed, RTVE gradually removed this material since 1986 in a very complex process due to its manipulation. This process continued until a decade ago when the Corporation agreed to remove asbestos from Studio 1, 2 and 3, and even demolish other facilities.