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Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Health
Priyanka Shankar

Why does India still use and trade asbestos?

In this photo from 2013, Indian workers cover their faces as they handle asbestos sheets [File: Saurabh Das/AP Photo]

Asbestos – a cheap, heat-resistant mineral – was once used widely in building materials all around the world. Today, it is banned in 70 countries which have deemed that this construction material is a “silent killer” since its fibres are carcinogenic.

While there are six types of asbestos, chrysotile – white asbestos – is the most common form, used especially in roofing houses.

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