Asbestos in India continues to pose a serious public health threat, even as awareness about its dangers grows worldwide. Despite the material being banned or strictly regulated in more than 70 countries, India remains one of the largest importers of asbestos. In 2019–2020 alone, the country imported over 361,000 tonnes of chrysotile asbestos, mostly from Russia.
While asbestos may no longer be mined in India, its presence hasn’t disappeared. Many old buildings across the country—from rural homes to large institutional complexes—still contain asbestos cement sheets or tiles.
Living or working in spaces like these can quietly put you at risk. Therefore, understanding the asbestos problem in India is the first step toward protecting your health and your family’s well-being. This blog explains the asbestos problem in India and why understanding it matters for your safety.
What Is Asbestos and Why It Remains Prevalent in India?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of six fibrous minerals known for their strength, fire resistance, and insulation properties. For decades, it was used widely in construction, automotive parts, textiles, and even fireproof clothing. Its low cost and availability made it especially popular in developing countries like India. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers can break loose and float in the air. When inhaled, they enter your lungs and remain trapped for years, leading to severe diseases. The issue is not just with using asbestos, it’s the long-term exposure and poor handling practices that make it deadly.
Understanding the Different Types of Asbestos
Chrysotile (White Asbestos)
- Most common in India, used in roofing and water pipes.
- Flexible and soft, but still harmful.
- Makes up over 90% of global asbestos use.
- Known to cause cancer.
Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos)
- Has very thin, sharp fibers that can enter deep into the lungs.
- Known as the most dangerous type.
- Used in insulation, cement, and pipe coverings in older buildings.
Amosite (Brown Asbestos)
- Strong and heat-resistant, often used in cement sheets and thermal insulation.
- Found mostly in industrial settings.
- Can break easily and release harmful fibers into the air.
Tremolite
- Found as a contaminant in other minerals.
- Used less often but still dangerous.
- Can be present in paints, sealants, and old construction materials.
- Exposure causes lung damage over time.
Actinolite
- Dark in color and dense.
- May be found in fireproofing materials and construction insulation.
- Like all asbestos, even small exposure can increase cancer risk and lung diseases.
In India, chrysotile is often used in roofing and water pipes. Coarser fibers are found in insulation and millboard, while finer types may be hidden in brake linings, boiler covers, or even old floor tiles. Because asbestos cannot be identified just by looking, testing by professionals is the only way to confirm its presence.
Health Risks from Asbestos Exposure
Health experts agree: there is no safe level of exposure. Even one fiber, inhaled again and again, can lead to serious disease years later. Asbestos diseases take 15 to 40 years to appear. That means many people who are sick today were exposed decades ago, often without knowing. Here’s what can happen:
Asbestosis
A lung disease that causes scarring and stiffness and breathing becomes hard and painful over time. It’s a slow, permanent condition with no cure.
Mesothelioma
A rare but deadly cancer of the lung lining. It only happens due to asbestos exposure. Most people don’t show signs until decades later.
Lung Cancer
Long-term asbestos exposure increases lung cancer risk. Smoking and asbestos together make it even worse. Many workers don’t realize the danger until it’s too late.
Ovarian and Larynx Cancer
Asbestos fibers can also reach other parts of the body. Women exposed at home or work may develop ovarian cancer. Larynx cancer has also been linked.
Is Asbestos Banned in India?
The answer is complicated. While asbestos mining has been banned since 2011, the import and use of chrysotile asbestos remain legal. The government maintains that the wet process used in manufacturing reduces fiber release, but studies suggest otherwise. In 2022, India accounted for nearly half of the world’s asbestos imports.
The regulatory framework does not fully protect people from exposure. The lack of strict laws and enforcement continues to put lives at risk. Imported asbestos is still used in cement sheets, pipes, and brake linings.
Public health advocates have raised concerns about the Indian government’s reluctance to fully ban chrysotile. Some government reports have cited studies claiming minimal health risks under “controlled use,” but international agencies reject this view.
The WHO clearly states that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. With thousands of informal workers unregistered and unprotected, the existing legal framework does little to prevent exposure. India’s stand on asbestos remains outdated and disconnected from global health standards.
High-Risk Groups in India’s Asbestos Crisis
Workers who handle asbestos are not the only ones to be at risk of exposure. In India, the people most at risk are those who have less access to health-protective and regulatory systems and little ability to directly influence the situations that put them at risk.
Informal Sector
Workers in the informal sector who handle asbestos by cutting, staring and dismantling the product will, in most cases, have limited access to safety equipment, to medical monitoring, or to regulation.
Families living near Asbestos Dump Sites
Families who live adjacent to asbestos dump sites, or manufacturing units, will also be exposed to airborne fibers, something they cannot control. In this regard, the environmental contamination outside of the sites remains largely unregulated.
School Children
Children in schools are similarly at risk in schools which have already aged ceilings and roofs made of asbestos cement, since these materials are releasing fibers into the air over many years which creates a chronic exposure scenario indoors.
Women in Processing Units
Women in processing units will find themselves working closely and in poorly ventilated spaces, so that cumulative exposure will likely be much greater. There are even now studies that show a possible increased prevalence of asbestos-related illness when working in informal processing units.
Elderly Residents
Finally, elderly residents in their slum housing have lengthy exposure to poor quality housing that has failed infrastructures which is more likely than not made from deteriorating asbestos roofs.
How India Can Begin to Solve the Asbestos Crisis
Solving the asbestos problem in India starts with awareness. Most people don’t know these products can make them sick over time. Clear labeling and proper records can help people find out where asbestos is used, especially in older buildings. Medical systems must track and report asbestos illnesses, which are often missed due to poor reporting.
India’s asbestos laws need to go further. While mining is banned, the import and use of chrysotile asbestos are still allowed. This gap leaves workers and families exposed. A full ban on all forms of asbestos is the only way to protect the next generation.
Replacing asbestos roofing with safer alternatives like metal or fiber cement sheets should be encouraged through government subsidies.
To prevent further harm, asbestos removal needs to be handled with care. This work requires trained professionals who understand how to manage it safely. We, at EPSCO India, have certified teams that carry out asbestos inspection, removal, and site management using controlled and compliant methods. Collaboration between public health bodies and companies like EPSCO India can make real progress.
