What health hazards are associated with asbestos exposure?
Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of malignant mesothelioma, a rare and incurable type of cancer, and asbestosis, a chronic inflammatory lung disease that severely scars parenchymal tissue of the lung. Asbestosis, while not directly fatal, can reduce total lung capacity, increasing the chance of heart failure (in severe cases). Individuals suffering from asbestosis are also at increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.
