Asbestos is a natural mineral widely used in industries such as construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing due its heat resistance, tensile strength, and insulating properties. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled or swallowed and cause both malignant and benign mesothelioma.
To help you learn more about asbestos and the type of diseases it can lead to, we’ve put together a list of 11 asbestos-related diseases you should be aware of:
Malignant Diseases Related to Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is the most common case of cancer related to asbestos exposure, even though it’s a rare disease. This type of cancer affects the mesothelium and it can take 20 to 50 years between asbestos exposure and the onset of mesothelioma. The disease can affect the lining of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles — known as pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and testicular mesothelioma, respectively.
