More important are cumulative exposures from medical diagnostic and treatment procedures, and from commercial and occupational sources. Leukemias and cancers of the breast, lung and thyroid are typical but cancers of the stomach, colon, bladder, and potentially any human tumor may be seen. Commercial sources such as tanning parlors also provide risk.
Particles can also be important.
The cancer risk with asbestos relates to fiber length and toughness. The risk from particles in air pollution is related to their size and propensity to settle in the lung.