While companies in the asbestos industry worked hard for more than a century to keep the fact that asbestos exposure causes malignant mesothelioma from the general public, this is not the only serious and potentially deadly illness asbestos exposure can cause. One of the lesser known, but still fairly common asbestos related illnesses is known as asbestosis.
Asbestosis occurs when the deadly fibers are inhaled and become embedded in the lungs. These fibers are very sharp and can cut and scratch the tissue lining the lungs. Over time, these cuts can form scar tissue that gets progressively thicker as it keeps opening and healing time and time again. Once this scar tissue is allowed to build, it can obstruct the victim’s airway making it very difficult to breath. This causes chronic shortness of breath and other serious medical conditions. Asbestosis is similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is seen most often in smokers. While a victim can be treated and will likely have to use an oxygen tank, it is not curable and can be deadly. Continue reading