Asbestos, Mesothelioma Information About Asbestosis 1. Asbestosis is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers. It usually strikes workers in the textile, cement and insulating industries.
Asbestos fibers are microscopic and virtually indestructible.
The asbestos fibers can easily flake off and are small enough to be completely inhaled deep into the lungs. When they are inhaled into the lung, the lung's defense cells try to destroy the asbestos fibers, but the body's defense mechanisms cannot break down asbestos. The result is that the asbestos fibers remain in the lungs and cause scarring and the inflammation continues for decades. This thickening and scarring prevents oxygen and carbon dioxide from traveling between the the tiny air sacs of the lungs and into the blood stream, so breathing becomes much less efficient. People who suffer from Asbestosis may be able to acquire financial compensation for their injuries because the manufacturers of asbestos often ignored the health risks associated with it.