The study is believed to be the first Canadian research to look at asbestos-related cancer in a specific region, examining the area of Thetford Mines, Quebec.

The province has had the report for eight months.

Quebec's public health institute delivered the completed report to regional officials and the provincial Health Department in March.

While the study still hasn't been made public, officials say it will be released sometime this month.

Incidents of cancer linked to asbestos are on the rise, and Canada still exports the substance to mainly developing countries despite numerous studies linking it to cancer.