The company that owns the Montparnesse Tower in Paris, France’s highest building and a popular tourist attraction, has been told to remove the asbestos it contains, amid fears it could be a cancer risk.

The daily Le Parisien and the weekly Journal du Dimanche said a recent survey carried out by asbestos experts found the carcinogenic material in many parts of the 59-floor, 209-metre high skyscraper, completed in 1973.

A government official confirmed by telephone that there was asbestos in the building, but did not say whether there was any danger to visitors and people who work there.

“The company that owns the tower will have 36 months to do the necessary work to ensure it is safe,” he said.

Le Parisien said it could cost 3 to 4 million euros ($4 to $5.4 million) to carry out the clean-up work. It said it would take three years to complete the work if the building is evacuated or 10 years if it is not closed.

France banned the use of asbestos in 1997. Asbestos, which can cause cancer and other respiratory diseases, was used in the insulation of buildings in France.

“This new scandal goes with the others on a list of ‘asbestos cases’ that is far too long,” the environmentalist Green party said, demanding immediate action to protect people who work at the Tower.

“The Montparnasse Tower is just the tip of the iceberg. Most buildings built after World War II made massive use of asbestos,” it said.

About 5,000 people in many companies work in the Montparnasse Tower, a colossal glass and steel structure that caused outrage when it was built because it made such an impact on the city skyline.

The tower is one of the tallest buildings in Europe and about 600,000 tourists visit it each year, climbing to the upper floors to see panoramic views of Paris.