Years after the World Heath Organisation (WHO) recognised asbestos as one of the most significant occupational carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) and declared the need to eliminate its use, the Centre has commissioned a study to assess its environmental and health hazard in India. In 2006, the WHO had called for preventing the rise of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and estimated that globally, over 107,000 deaths annually are caused by these diseases, including asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis (acute respiratory disease).