A lawsuit was filed Friday on behalf of eight asbestos victims in southern Osaka Prefecture's Sennan district, home to numerous fiber-spinning plants, accusing the state of failing to introduce protective measures for workers and nearby residents.

The 240 million yen lawsuit filed at the Osaka District Court is the first in a series of asbestos-related actions to be brought against the state.

The lawsuit aims to clarify the state's readiness to prevent asbestos-related damages. The issue has drawn wide attention since last June, when the extent of health damage among people living near Kubota Corp.'s asbestos-contaminated, closed factory in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, came to light.