What illnesses are associated with asbestos exposure?
Asbestosis Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers aggravate lung tissues, which causes them to scar. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. In its advanced stages, the disease may cause cardiac failure. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis; the disease is usually disabling or fatal. The risk of asbestosis is minimal for those who do not work with asbestos; the disease is rarely caused by neighborhood or family exposure. Those who renovate or demolish buildings that contain asbestos may be at significant risk, depending on the nature of the exposure and precautions taken. Lung Cancer Mesothelioma lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. The incidence of mesothelioma lung cancer in people who are directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of asbestos and its products is much higher than in the general
