Pleural plaques, or also called fibrous buildups on the outer (parietal) pleura, are most commonly caused because of occupational exposure to asbestos, and are frequently seen in those individuals who have worked in asbestos removal. Pleural plaques in and of themselves are benign, and cannot thereby become cancerous, although it has been postulated that individuals suffering from plural plaques are at higher risk for eventual development of Mesothelioma or lung cancer.
 The presence of pleural plaques, however, is often believed to be an accurate indicator of cancer risk. In studies published in 1980 and 1994, researcher G. Hallandale indicated an increased risk of lung cancer among people afflicted with pleural plaques, and recommended that such patients be screened regularly.
 Despite their benignity, pleural plaques can cause much suffering to those afflicted, whether or not any increased risk of Mesothelioma or cancerous development exists.
 The definition of Pleural Plaques: Pleural plaques are a form of fibrosis, which occurs on the parietal pleura (the outer covering of the diaphragm, most frequently on the parietal pleura’s inner lining. They are often bilateral in nature. Fibrosis, or the creation of tissue that is fibrous, can be described as the body’s natural reaction to damage or compromise. In non-technical language, pleural plaques could be most accurately described as internal scarring.
 In addition to the formation of the plaques themselves, individuals who suffer from pleural plaques also run the risk of calcification - small internal buildups of calcium on or around the affected area. When seen in an X-ray, the calcified plaques have a more dense and center-weighted appearance than non- calcified plaques, which while causing additional damage makes the plaques easier to detect.
 In the case of pleural plaques, the damage is generally caused by asbestos fibers, which are small enough to pass through the body’s defenses against particulates, but large enough to cause irreparable internal damage. Some studies have purported that up to 50% of people who have experienced occupational exposure to asbestos will develop plural plaques.
 Pleural plaques have recently become a political issue as well as a medical issue. In the U.K., a 2007 Law Lords ruling that denied continued compensation payments to sufferers of pleural plaques has come under much scrutiny and criticism. Prior to the 2007 ruling, British courts had for decades set a precedent of awarding compensation for individuals afflicted with the condition.
 Supporters of the ruling point to the increased costs of compensation for pleural plaque sufferers, and raise the worry that allowing compensation would result in a dramatic increase in claims. The ruling’s opponents counter that the studies provided to the government were flawed, and that the lack of continued compensation is a social injustice.
 Whether a medical, social, or political issue, the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of pleural plaques are important issues to sufferers of asbestos-related conditions and their families.