Asbestos Related Diseases

All exposure to asbestos is dangerous, but the longer a person is exposed, the more he or she is at risk of developing some of the following asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The only known cause of this terrible disease is exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma remains quietly in the body for up to fifty years. This makes it extremely difficult to diagnose. The first symptoms that appear are coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and fatigue.

Mesothelioma lung cancer occurs in lung tissue, whereas mesothelioma manifests itself in the mesothelium, which is the membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities.

Asbestos lung cancer is the most common cancer associated with asbestos exposure. Lung cancers believed to be caused by asbestos exposure are more common in those who smoke.

Asbestosis is also known as pulmonary fibrosis. This disease can take ten to thirty years to develop. The symptoms of asbestosis include severe shortness of breath, chest tightness, dry cough, loss of appetite, fatigue, and clubbing of fingers. Lung scarring will generally appear on x-rays, but a lung biopsy is the most effective way to diagnose asbestosis.

To learn more about Asbestos Awareness visit our Cal/OSHA Asbestos Awareness Online Training web page.