Definition Asbestosis is chronic, progressive inflammation of the lung. It is not contagious. Description Asbestosis is a consequence of prolonged exposure to large quantities of asbestos, a material once widely used in construction, insulation, and manufacturing. When asbestos is inhaled, fibers penetrate the breathing passages and irritate, fill, inflame, and scar lung tissue. Legislation has reduced use of asbestos in the United States, but workers who handle automobile brake shoe linings, boiler insulation, ceiling acoustic tiles, electrical equipment, and fire-resistant materials are still exposed to the substance.
Asbestos is used in the production of paints and plastics.
Significant amounts can be released into the atmosphere when old buildings or boats are razed or remodeled. Asbestosis is most common in men over 40 who have worked in asbestos-related occupations. Smokers or heavy drinkers have the greatest risk of developing this disease. Between 1968 and 1992, more than 10,000 Americans over the age of 15 died as a result of asbestosis. Family members can develop the disease as a result of inhaling particles of asbestos dust that cling to workers' clothes.