Other conditions associated with asbestos exposure

Lung cancer

Exposure to asbestos is associated with an increased likelihood of developing lung cancer (cancer within the lungs) in addition to malignant mesothelioma. The risk is related to the the severity (how much) and duration (how long) of the asbestos exposure, but decreases after the exposure stops. It usually develops 10-30 years after asbestos exposure.

Although the risk of developing lung cancer is less than that of developing malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer is a more common disease in general. In fact, it is the most common cancer associated with asbestos, and is the cause of 1 in every 5 deaths amongst asbestos workers (compared to 1 in every 10 deaths from malignant mesothelioma).

Of particular importance is the fact that the lung cancer risk is greatly increased in smokers. Compared to non-asbestos-exposed non-smokers, asbestos workers who do not smoke have a 5 times increased risk of developing lung cancer and non-exposed smokers have a 10 times increased risk. However, those asbestos workers who smoke have a 50-90 times increased risk of developing lung cancer.

Various other factors also increase the risk of developing lung cancer, including type of asbestos industry (greater in textile compared to asbestos cement industry), type of asbestos (worse with amphiboles) and fiber type (longer fibers being more carcinogenic).