This is a serious disease and can eventually lead to disability, and death. Both lung cancer and mesothelioma are usually fatal. These asbestos related diseases will not appear immediately, but may take from 10 to 50 years to develop following exposure. Asbestos exposure and disease is much like smoking and smoking related disease. The exposure increases the risk, but does not automatically mean that an individual will develop a related disease.
Many people smoke for years, even a lifetime, and develop no smoking related disease.
Others smoke for only a short period of time, yet develop a serious disease quickly. Asbestos exposure and related diseases mirror these examples. Research is currently underway to better determine the risks of short term and low concentration exposure to asbestos. The x-ray cannot detect the asbestos fibers themselves, but can detect early signs of lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos risk factors include length, levels, and frequency of asbestos exposure and smoking history.