One of the most notable things about disease arising specifically from ingesting or inhaling asbestos, is the long ‘latency period’ associated with it; in other words, it can take many years, and perhaps even decades, for disease to discernibly develop following exposure.
Mesothelioma, for instance, can take around 20 to 60 years to begin showing symptoms after exposure. Indeed, it is very rare for this cancer of the lung lining to develop any sooner than 15 years following the sufferer’s direct contact with asbestos.