Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

A recent report in the Khaleej Times says asbestos is still readily available in Dubai on the black market, despite a government ban on the substance. While representatives from the Dubai Municipality Environment Department say they are not aware of any black market trading of the hazardous material, the news agency says industry sources confirm it is easy to find illegal asbestos sales in Deira and Satwa.

The United Arab Emirates passed a law in 2006 banning the sale of sheets of asbestos. Asbestos has been linked to diseases including asbestosis, a severe scarring of the lungs; and mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and, more rarely, the abdomen.

The Dubai Municipality is striving to put checks in place that would oversee the removal of asbestos from demolition sites and ensure that it is disposed of properly, but workers says they are regularly approached by people offering to buy the asbestos they are removing from a site, the Times reports.

It is estimated that between 70 and 80 percent of homes in Dubai contain some asbestos. The material is found most commonly in asbesots building sheets, but has also been identified in asbestos water pipes, floor tiles and decorative wallpaper.

Asbestos generally is not dangerous unless it is disturbed, when it releases microscopic fibers that can be inhaled and which remain in the body indefinitely. A large part of the problem is that people are unaware of the lurking danger and expose themselves to these fibers during home renovation projects.

Asbestos has been popular because of its low cost, so it is more commonly found in lower cost accommodations, the Times reports.

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