sade075

Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, where the lungs extensive scar tissue is formed. Asbestos minerals consist of silicate fibers with different chemical composition. If inhaled, asbestos fibers settle in the lungs, causing scarring. Inhaling asbestos can also cause thickening of the pleura  (the membrane lining the lungs). Causes Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring ( fibrosis ) in the lungs. Lung tissue fibrosis that forms can not inflate and deflate properly. Severity of the disease depends on the duration of exposure and the number of fibers inhaled. Exposure to asbestos can be found in the mining and milling, construction and other industries. Exposure to asbestos workers' families can also occur from particles brought home on the clothing of workers. Diseases caused by asbestos include: Pleural plaques (calcification) Malignant mesothelioma Pleural effusion . Mesothelioma can occur within 20-40 years after exposure. Cigarette smokin...