Explain what testing has been done, and what safety precautions apply. Use the information following each question to add points that no one mentions. Asbestos fibers are very small. If you inhale them, they go deep into your lungs. They stay there and can cause disease from 10 to 40 years later.
Asbestos can cause a lung disease called asbestosis, and a rare type of cancer called mesothelioma.
Only people who are exposed to asbestos get these diseases. Asbestos also increases your risk of lung cancer and other types of cancer. The health risk is increased by smoking. Asbestos products can release fibers into the air when they are in poor condition, when they are cut, or when nearby work disturbs them. Asbestos products are called friable when you can crush them with finger and hand pressure alone.