Exposure to asbestos, primarily the inhalation of microscopically small particles of the material, is the main source that can be directly linked to mesothelioma, pleural disease, lung cancer and also asbestosis.

There were several studies conducted in order to find out which level of exposure to the toxic substances it takes to trigger any of the aforementioned diseases. What we do know though is that family members of people, who work with asbestos, aren't save either. The clothes and the shoes that will be brought back home by the individual who was exposed to the material are typically contaminated, too.

What makes asbestosis different from mesothelioma and lung cancer? Asbestosis is the only asbestos induced disease that can only be related to exposure to the substance, and not to anything else. It was proven, that there aren't any other potential sources.

What is not different, though: Asbestosis takes a long time as it starts to show its first signs, it may easily take 20 or 30 years. Asbestosis is not a cancer. It's a type of fibrosis of the lung. The symptoms of this disease get progressively worse over course of time. Typically, no or only very mild symptoms are seen in asbestosis patients. A very specific and early symptom is short breath. This is typically seen when the patient is working out.

The patient needs a great deal of effort to breathe normally. Asbestosis builds scar tissue in the lungs. This makes the lungs less flexible and hinders them to expand as air is being inhaled. As a result, it requires more effort from the patient to take a breath. Later on, a host of other symptoms - that are not only related to asbestosis, but could also be mistaken for pneumonia symptoms - might surface, like fatigue, dry cough, rapid weight loss, etc..

Another common symptom of asbestosis, and typically being encountered at a later stage of the disease, is high blood pressure. It goes without saying that it is absolutely necessary to discontinue any potential exposure to asbestos for any person diagnosed with the disease.

Also, as asbestosis is primarily affecting the lung function, smoking needs to be avoided. Other than a lung transplantation, there is no cure for the disease. However, modern medicine offers a variety of effective treatments for the symptoms, which also includes the surgical removal of the scar tissue that has been building in the lungs.