Asbestos fibers are microscopic and are easily inhaled or swallowed. Unfortunately, though tiny, they are also quite rigid and not easily expelled or broken down by the body. Rather, they act like hook-and-loop fasteners that cling to the tissues of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that can result from the carcinogens in asbestos. Its most frequent form is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs.