ASBESTOSIS

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous, but chronic lung illness caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural material made up of tiny fibres which can lodge in the lungs and lead to a number of diseases. A significant exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and other non-malignant lung and pleural disorders. The risk involved depends on the duration, frequency, concentration and type of asbestos fibres. Exposure to asbestos often occurs by breathing contaminated air in workplaces that make or use asbestos or in the air
of buildings containing asbestos that are being demolished or renovated.

Diseases caused by asbestos exposure take a long time to develop. Many cases of asbestosis in asbestos workers can take 15 years or longer after the initial exposure to asbestos. Smoking also greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer occuring in workers exposed to asbestos. The interaction between cigarette smoke and asbestos has been found to accelerate the chances of getting lung cancer. Studies have also suggested that breathing asbestos can increase the chances of cancers in other parts of the body - stomach, intestines, kidneys - but this is not certain.