According to the National Cancer Institute, among some groups of workers who are heavily exposed to asbestos, as much as 20 to 25 percent of all deaths are due to lung cancer. But asbestos exposure is not limited to workers. Asbestos, a virtually indestructible fiber, has been used broadly in construction, insulation, and other building materials for many years. Its much prized durability may make it a hazard for those who live, work, or go to school in buildings that were built with asbestos products. Public buildings including schools in Wyoming, New York, and New Jersey, as well as university buildings in Connecticut and California were temporarily closed because asbestos was flaking from the walls or ceilings.
Asbestos occurs in several different forms.
The medically significant ones are crocidolite and amosite. But considerable evidence now suggests that workplace air pollutants are significant causes as well. Many cancers, including lung cancer, occur more frequently in industrialized areas than in rural areas. Chemists, painters, and printers also seem to have an increased risk of lung cancer. Cigarette smoking, added to the effects of industrial cancer-inducing agents, greatly increases the incidence of lung cancer in workers.