Based on Your Reading:
Get Your Free Mesothelioma Guide
Find a Top Mesothelioma Doctor
Access Help Paying for Treatment
Asbestosis Causes
Table Of Contents
Asbestosis is a type of progressive lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. Prolonged, regular asbestos exposure causes scarring in the lungs, but it can take years or decades for symptoms to develop. Asbestosis causes difficulty breathing, chronic cough and other lung problems.
Reading Time: 5 mins
Last Edited On: 11/29/2023
Written by Karen Selby, RN • Edited By Walter Pacheco • Medically Reviewed By Kristopher Bunting, M.D.
Fact Checked
Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
Reviewed
Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
- Assisting mesothelioma patients and their loved ones since 2006.
- Helps more than 50% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed annually in the U.S.
- A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- 5-star reviewed mesothelioma and support organization.
Testimonials
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.LashawnMesothelioma patient’s daughter
How to Cite Asbestos.com’s Article
APA
Selby, K. (2023, November 29). Asbestosis Causes. Asbestos.com. Retrieved December 5, 2023, from https://www.asbestos.com/asbestosis/causes/
MLA
Selby, Karen. "Asbestosis Causes." Asbestos.com, 29 Nov 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/asbestosis/causes/.
Chicago
Selby, Karen. "Asbestosis Causes." Asbestos.com. Last modified November 29, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/asbestosis/causes/.
What Causes Asbestosis?
Inhaling asbestos fibers causes asbestosis, a serious lung condition characterized by progressive lung tissue scarring. The human body can’t remove every inhaled asbestos fiber, and accumulation of these toxic fibers leads to asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used historically by many American industries until its use became regulated in the 1970s. Most asbestos exposure occurs in occupations such as construction, shipping, aerospace engineering and mining.
Key Facts About Asbestosis
- Asbestosis causes progressive lung scarring such as pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease.
- Long-term exposure to asbestos increases the risk of asbestosis.
- No cure currently exists for asbestosis, but treatment can slow progression and improve symptoms.
Although asbestosis is not cancerous, it is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the tissue layers covering the lungs, and lung cancer. Other possible asbestosis complications include respiratory failure, cancers of other organs and heart disease.
Risk Factors for Asbestosis
Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor for asbestosis. As people have longer, more intense asbestos exposure, their risk of asbestosis increases.
All humans are exposed to small amounts of asbestos in the air, water and soil. However, this low-level exposure usually doesn’t cause illness. Most people who become ill from asbestos have a history of frequent, prolonged exposure.
Common Risk Factors
- Amount of asbestos exposure
- Asbestos fiber size, shape and makeup
- Exposure source
- Inherited genetic factors
- Length of time of exposure
- Preexisting lung disease
- Smoking
Asbestosis shares many risk factors with mesothelioma. As a result, people with these risk factors who develop asbestosis also have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma.
Where Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?
Most asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace. Direct exposure can occur through direct physical contact with asbestos-containing products or through breathing in small particles. Indirect exposure, also known as secondary exposure, occurs when someone comes into contact with asbestos fibers on clothing, furniture or another person’s body.
Sources of Asbestos Exposure
- Asbestos Products: Because of its popular use in American industry prior to the 1970s, asbestos appears in a wide range of materials and products. These include building materials, automotive parts, cement and adhesives, among others.
- Environmental Asbestos: Asbestos exposure in the environment occurs when mining, disturbing of natural asbestos deposits or processing of asbestos ore releases asbestos fibers into the air. Hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and other natural disasters can also release asbestos fibers.
- Occupational Exposure: Most occupational asbestos exposure affects construction workers, firefighters, industrial workers, power plant workers, shipyard workers and U.S. Navy veterans who worked in these occupations prior to the 1970s. The profession with the greatest potential for dangerous asbestos exposure is asbestos mining, which ended in the U.S. in 2022.
- Secondary Exposure: People exposed to asbestos indirectly have secondary asbestos exposure. People working with asbestos often brought asbestos fibers home to their families unknowingly on their clothing and bodies.
Asbestos exposure remains a significant concern for workers and others at risk of exposure. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working to improve safety standards to reduce asbestos exposure risk. As of March 2023, the EPA was collecting further data about asbestos dangers to support its proposed ban on ongoing asbestos use.
Latency Period of Asbestosis
Asbestosis can have a long latency period, with symptoms usually taking between 20 and 30 years to develop after the initial exposure to asbestos. However, this period can shorten significantly for people exposed to greater amounts of asbestos, such as shipbuilders and insulation workers.
Other asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, can also take decades to develop after exposure. A recent study in South Korea examined the latency period of mesothelioma and lung cancer related to asbestos exposure. Researchers found that job type, asbestos type and the initial age at exposure have a significant effect on the latency period in addition to the amount and duration of the exposure.
Fortunately, imaging tests can identify signs of asbestosis before symptoms arise. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos and feel out of breath occasionally, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor so they can recommend appropriate screening tests.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
There are other asbestos-related diseases in addition to asbestosis. Some of these diseases are malignant, or cancerous; others are benign, or noncancerous.
Malignant Diseases
- Colon cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Ovarian cancer
- Pharyngeal cancer
- Stomach cancer
Benign Diseases
- Asbestosis
- Atelectasis (partial lung collapse)
- Hyaline pleural plaques
- Pericardial effusion (fluid around the heart)
- Peritoneal effusion (fluid accumulation in the belly)
- Pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural cavity)
- Pleural thickening
When it occurs in isolation, without signs or symptoms of cancer, the disease is benign. Although benign cases are considered less serious than malignant ones, they can still be life-threatening.
Preventing the Development of Asbestosis
Preventing asbestosis requires avoiding asbestos exposure. People who work in environments with significant exposure need to be proactive in order to limit their risk. Workers can reduce their exposure by ensuring their employer follows regulations and that they have proper training and certification to work with asbestos.
It’s important to know where asbestos exposure happens in order to prevent it. For example, if you’re working on a home renovation or demolition, check for asbestos beforehand if the home’s construction predates 1980. Avoiding old asbestos insulation products can also reduce exposure risk. If you discover asbestos in your home, you shouldn’t remove it yourself. A professional must assist with the disposal process.
These methods are useful for preventing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. If you think you have experienced asbestos exposure or have an asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis, you should talk with your doctor about testing and prevention strategies to avoid future exposure.
Get Free Recipes for Mesothelioma Patients
Get Compensation You Deserve
Connect with a Top Specialist
