More than half of the buildings in Seoul are constructed with an asbestos substance, a lawmaker said Tuesday, based on a Seoul Metropolitan Government report.

Rep. Cho Jung-sik of the Democratic Party said the toxic substance was found in 34 of 66 buildings randomly selected for inspection.

Among the buildings that tested positive were hospital, educational and cultural facilities, Cho said. More than 80 percent of buildings constructed in the 1980s tested positive for asbestos, while the rate fell to 30 percent among those built after 2000, the lawmaker said.

Asbestos was popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century because of its resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage, sound absorption and tensile strength.

Doctors say the inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer.
The lawmaker urged the government to ban the use of the toxic material in construction and manufacturing.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr