Asbestos and How it Causes Health Problems

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that is heat resistant. As such, it has been commonly used in fire-proofing materials, insulation products, and other building materials, as well as other products such as automobile brake linings and clutches. Asbestos has been shown to cause serious health problems when inhaled into the lungs.

When products containing asbestos are disturbed, thin, lightweight asbestos fibers can become airborne (released into the air). Persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers resulting in fibers deposited in their lungs. Fibers embedded in the lung tissue over time may result in lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of developing asbestosis and lung cancer.