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How can asbestos exposure cause lung disease and cancer?
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occupational disease
The lung disease asbestosis is caused primarily by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. It occurs mainly among workers whose occupations involve exposure to asbestos and people who live near mines, factories, and construction sites.
Asbestos exposure leads to lung disease and cancer primarily through the inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibers, which become trapped in the lungs for years.1
The development of these conditions involves the following processes:
- Asbestosis: Inhaled fibers cause chronic irritation, leading to excessive scarring and fibrosis. This results in the stiffening of lung tissue, which impairs breathing and reduces oxygenation of the blood.1
- Cancer and Mesothelioma: The exact biological mechanism is not fully understood due to long latency periods, but it is likely that a chronic inflammatory reaction causes DNA damage to cells. This process increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting the membrane lining the lungs and other body cavities.21
It is important to note that cigarette smoking significantly aggravates the symptoms of asbestosis and further increases the risk of lung cancer, though it is not associated with the development of mesothelioma.12