Asbestos becomes dangerous when it breaks into pieces small enough to enter deep into the lungs. It is a hidden killer that can cause four serious diseases like Mesothelioma, Lung cancer, Asbestosis, Pleural thickening.
These diseases will not affect you immediately they often take a long time to develop, but once diagnosed, it is often too late to do anything.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare type of tumor that arises in the lungs (pleura) and the lining surrounding the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). It is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure and by the time it is diagnosed, it is almost always fatal.
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Asbestos-related lung cancer looks the same as lung cancer caused by smoking and other causes. It is estimated that there is around one lung cancer for every mesothelioma death.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. It causes diffuse pulmonary fibrosis and in severe cases can be fatal.
Pleural thickening
Pleural thickening is generally a problem that happens after heavy asbestos exposure. Tiny asbestos fibres settle in the lung tissues and irritate the pleura causing scarring and hardening. If this gets worse, the lung itself can be squeezed, and can cause shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest.
