Chile's governmental National Environment Commission (CONAMA) made a pledge Sep. 23 to the Asbestos Victims Association to begin a new phase of joint efforts to finalize solutions for families that have been exposed to this carcinogen in the capital's Maipú district. Chile has banned asbestos, a toxic substance that was widely used in construction.

The association is pleased with the replacement of contaminated materials in 47 housing units of the Villa Pizarreño complex and a school in Maipú, with resources provided by CONAMA.

But the group says that asbestos must still be removed in two more neighborhoods of Maipú, the most populous district of Santiago, with 470,000 inhabitants.