What diseases are caused by asbestos exposure?
Asbestos diseases may be placed in two categories. Cancerous and noncancerous. Asbestos is a potent carcinogen. The primary forms of cancer of the lung which have been linked to asbestos exposure are: • (1) Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in two parts of the body, the pleura of the lung, or the perioteneum, which is the area below the lung. The pleura is the lining between the lungs and the chest cavity. Generally, pleural mesothelioma does not penetrate deeply into the lung itself. Typically, the disease spreads itself on the outside of the lung, compressing the lung, and eventually stops the lungs ability to expand and contract, thus suffocating the victim. Often, secondary diseases, such as pneumonia will be an immediate cause of death inasmuch as the mesothelioma lowers the resistance of the body to such diseases. For further information on malignant mesothelioma, visit the information pages maintained by the National Cancer Institute. Also, learn about mesothelio
