By the time information on the dangers of asbestos inhalation reached the main masses, millions of individuals have already been employed in companies whose buildings contained asbestos. Asbestos was seen as a revolutionary material because of its relatively cheap cost and it high insulating properties. As a result, it was widely used in ducting, piping and wall installations were there was a need to reduce heat transfer. However, it was later realized that manufacturers were concealing the after effects of asbestos exposure due to the high financial gains they were receiving from its production.
Asbestos exposure is the main reason responsible for malignant mesothelioma. According to recent research, there is a latency period of thirty to forty years between starting exposure and disease development with average between fifteen and thirty years. You will find that the mesothelioma incidence increases with the intensity and exposure duration to asbestos. Prolonged asbestos exposure can cause number of serious health issues. It includes asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestosis can be termed as an excess asbestos accumulation in the lungs that can lead to fibrosis. On the other hand, lung cancer is one of the main causes of death occurring because of asbestos exposure.