Seoul's asbestos problem is most serious at Bangbae Station on subway line No. 2. Yellow asbestos dust can be seen falling from the ceiling and scattered around the platform. Most passengers don't realize that the yellow powder is asbestos, and they walk through it oblivious to the danger. The situation is similar at other stations on lines No. 2, 3 and 4.

According to a study by subway operator Seoul Metro, construction materials containing asbestos were used or asbestos dust falls from the ceiling to the platform or railways at 17 stations.

A recent health survey of subway workers conducted by the Labor Ministry shows clearly the side effects of the substance. A whopping 30 percent or 909 out of 2,972 Seoul Metro employees were found to have health problems believed to be caused by asbestos.

Despite the clear dangers posed by the substance, the asbestos problem in Seoul's subway goes unchecked. In July last year, Seoul Metro said it would temporarily close down Bangbae Station in January 2008 to remove the asbestos. But as of Jan. 13, the subway operator still had not hired a removal company because it didn't have funds budgeted for the work.

A similar situation is found at Sinseoldong Station. Work to remove asbestos from that station has been suspended, as it was found that it would be very difficult for the removers to complete the work safely. The station remains open to commuters.

Only on-site inspections are planned for the other 15 stations among the 17 deemed to have serious asbestos problems. That means subway users can expect to be fully exposed to the harmful substance for at least the next two years.

Choi Sang-jun, a researcher at the Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, said that even a tiny amount of asbestos in the air can be fatal for children or adolescents with weak immunity systems if they breathe heavily.

(englishnews@chosun.com )