Health Risks from Asbestos

Asbestosis 

• A chronic lung disease that causes scarring and stiffening of the lungs

• Symptoms include breathlessness, chest tightness, and persistent coughing

• There's no cure for asbestosis

Lung cancer

• Asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, often many years after exposure 

• Smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer from asbestos exposure 

Mesothelioma 

• A rare cancer of the membranes that line the chest and abdomen

• It's thought that most mesotheliomas are caused by asbestos exposure

Ovarian cancer 

• Asbestos exposure has been linked to ovarian cancer

• Asbestos exposure can weaken the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to cancer cells

Laryngeal cancer 

• Asbestos exposure has been linked to laryngeal cancer

Other health risks from asbestos exposure include: pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and atelectasis. 

If you think you've been exposed to asbestos, you should talk to your doctor.