Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos exposure is associated with the following diseases and conditions:

Asbestosis is the chronic inflammation and subsequent scarring of the lung that causes shortness of breath and is linked with an increased risk of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the abnormal cell growth of lung tissues. Asbestos exposure can cause or contribute to lung cancer, most commonly in patients with a significant smoking history. Cigarette smoke has a synergistic effect with asbestos and can multiply the relative risks of developing lung cancer up to 50 fold.

Pleural plaques is a condition describing the presence of irregular, scarred tissue outside lining of the lung (pleura).

Pleural disease occurs when the scarring of the lung's lining is sufficient enough to cause restrictive lung disease.