Listen Duration: 4 minutes 45 seconds 4 m 45 s Listen Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Sugio Furuya speaks to Asia Pacific ( Asia Pacific ) Download 2.2 MB Governments in Asia have been accused of ignoring the dangers of asbestos, and allowing the ongoing use of the hazardous building material.

Sugio Furuya, coordinator of the Asian Ban Asbestos Network, or A-BAN, has told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific consumption among many Asian countries is still on the rise, although countries like Japan, South Korea and Australia have banned the use of asbestos.

"Asbestos consumption in Asia is accounting for 70 per cent of global asbestos consumption," Mr Furuya said.

"More than 90 per cent of asbestos is used for construction materials and the people touching asbestos are not informed about [its] hazard."

Mr Furuya says the material is being used in the construction of houses due to its low cost.

"Asbestos construction materials is only for factory or other industrial use," he said.

"But now, asbestos cement is very easily used for residential homes in rural areas in many Asian countries."

He says countries like India are intentionally ignoring the dangers of asbestos.

"There's almost no regulation against asbestos in such countries and asbestos victims are still invisible in many developing countries," Mr Furuya said.

"[The Indian government] takes no action to prevent people from asbestos exposure."

He says it is important to educate people in the region about the dangers of the material.

"All people have a right to work and live in safe and healthy way," he said.

"Safer alternatives are available everywhere, so it is not [necessary] to use asbestos anymore."

Mr Furuya says Australia can help Asian countries stop using asbestos.

"Australia has much experience and expertise to deal with asbestos," he said.

"Australia can contribute... to avoid an asbestos epidemic in the future."