Indiana's environmental agency is giving the state's asbestos-removal professionals the new option of renewing their state licenses online.

State officials say the website that debuted Wednesday will bring convenience to asbestos specialists and increase efficiency at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Indiana currently licenses about 2,500 asbestos-removal professionals each year.

Asbestos was used until the mid-1970s in insulation and fireproofing material. If inhaled, its tiny fibers can cause cancer and other ailments that often take decades to develop.