A ban on the use of asbestos will take effect in 2009. The Labor Ministry said it will draw up specific measures to implement the ban after holding consultations with related ministries. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral commonly used as protection against fire or heat but is also believed to cause cancer. The crackdown on the substance follows reports that subway passengers are exposed to asbestos from the ceilings and platforms. One asbestos particle as small as two hundredths of a micrometer can lodge in lung tissue and cause cancer and other diseases.
