Asbestos-Related Diseases

What Types of Diseases Can Asbestos Cause?

There are 2 major asbestos-related disease types: Noncancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant). Even if a disease is benign, it can still become life-threatening if left untreated.

Any amount of asbestos exposure can lead to either benign or malignant disease. Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will become sick, however. Exposure does increase a person’s lifelong risk of developing one or more asbestos-related diseases.

Key Facts About Asbestos-Related Diseases

1. Studies have linked more than a dozen different diseases to asbestos exposure. 
2. People can be diagnosed with more than one asbestos-related disease at the same time.
3. A diagnosis of a benign asbestos-related disease doesn’t necessarily mean someone will develop cancer, but they may have an elevated risk.

This elevated risk lasts for decades after exposure. Because many asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period, it can take years before symptoms occur. 

While cancers typically have a latency period of several decades, noncancerous illnesses can arise within only a few years. One case study even revealed the presence of noncancerous pleural effusions less than a year after the patient’s exposure.

Malignant Asbestos-Related Diseases

Malignant asbestos-related diseases include: Mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer notes a definitive link between asbestos exposure and these 4 cancer types.

The IARC also notes a possible link with 3 additional tumor types: Pharyngeal cancer (a type of throat cancer), stomach cancer and colon cancer. Other cancers may also have potential associations with asbestos exposure. For example, evidence is growing regarding an association with bile duct cancer.

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Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma forms in the membranes covering body cavities. Tumors can appear on the lining of the lungs, stomach, heart or testes. Chest or abdominal pain and shortness of breath affect many patients. 

Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer forms in a woman’s ovaries, the reproductive organs that make and release eggs. A 2023 systematic review found that asbestos exposure in women increased the risk of death from ovarian cancer.

Laryngeal Cancer

Laryngeal cancer develops in the larynx or “voice box.” A recent study of occupational risk factors for laryngeal cancer found that workers exposed to asbestos are 3.68 times as likely to develop this disease. 

Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure can cause both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. Inhaled asbestos fibers can change specific genes in the body, eventually developing into asbestos-lung cancer over the course of 15 to 35 years.

Other Asbestos-Related Cancers

Asbestos exposure is a risk factor for bile duct and cancer in people without any other known risk factors. Other cancers possibly associated with asbestos exposure include esophageal cancer, gallbladder cancer, kidney cancer and throat cancer. Studies on asbestos and these cancers are inconsistent.

These diseases could potentially develop after a single exposure. However, malignant conditions usually result from years of cumulative exposure. People with the highest risk have inhaled or ingested large amounts of asbestos for extended periods of time.

Asbestos exposure can also cause other health problems, such as noncancerous diseases. People at the highest risk of developing malignant asbestos-related diseases are those who work in construction and other professions using asbestos-containing materials. These individuals may be eligible for cancer screenings because of their long-term asbestos exposure.

Benign Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos exposure can cause benign lung diseases including:  Asbestosis, COPD, effusions (fluid buildup), pleural plaques and pleural thickening. These diseases aren’t cancerous. They’re somewhat more common than asbestos-related cancers. 

Many benign asbestos-related diseases are signs of malignant mesothelioma. However, they may also point to noncancerous health problems such as viral infections or lung injury.

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Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that develops as a result of exposure to asbestos fibers. It leads to scarring and inflammation. Asbestosis is prevalent in insulating, shipyard work, pipefitting and asbestos manufacturing.

Pleural Effusions

Pleural effusions are a fluid buildup between pleural membrane layers, leading to shortness of breath. Effusions are often a symptom of late-stage mesothelioma or nonmesothelioma cancers.

Peritoneal Effusions

Peritoneal effusion (ascites) refers to excess fluid in the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare cause. Effusions are more likely linked to benign conditions or other types of cancer.

Pericardial Effusions

Pericardial effusion is the collection of excess fluid between the membrane layers surrounding the heart (pericardium). It may be a sign of malignant asbestos disease such as pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are hardened calcium deposits that form on the pleura after asbestos exposure. These plaques are not considered a serious health issue, but they can make breathing painful if they are too thick.

Pleuritis

Pleuritis, also known as pleurisy, is inflammation of the pleura. Asbestos exposure creates inflamed surfaces that become rough and rub together, resulting in sharp chest or shoulder pain. Pleurisy may occur with pleural effusions.

Diffuse Pleural Thickening

Asbestos exposure can cause diffuse pleural thickening. The condition affects 8 centimeters to one-quarter of the pleura. Diffuse pleural thickening may decrease lung function, but it rarely leads to death.

Collapsed Lung

A collapsed lung is an uncommon asbestos-related condition. It can develop when air becomes trapped in the pleural space. The collapse may be partial (rounded atelectasis) or total (pneumothorax).

COPD

Asbestos exposure does not directly cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but it can raise the risk. COPD may weaken the lungs, making people more susceptible to other asbestos-related diseases.

Your doctor will run a series of tests to determine what’s causing your symptoms. Proper treatment of benign asbestos-related diseases prevents further complications later on.

Even though these diseases are benign, they have the potential to become dangerous. Talk to your doctor if you begin experiencing symptoms of an asbestos-related disease, especially if you have previously been exposed to asbestos.

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How Asbestos Causes Disease

When inhaled, asbestos fibers can become trapped in the lung tissue or mesothelium, the thin lining of the body’s cavities. These fibers cause irritation and inflammation.

Asbestos fibers are microscopic and may also travel through the bloodstream. They can become stuck in the mesothelium lining other organs, such as the abdominal cavity or heart.

As Dr. Marcelo DaSilva, chief of thoracic surgery and medical director at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, tells us, “Patients inhale asbestos, which causes chronic inflammation. Those inflammatory changes lead to genetic changes in a cell, changing its DNA to a cancer cell.”

Commonly Asked Questions About Asbestos-Related Diseases

What are the 4 major asbestos-related diseases?

The 4 major types of asbestos-related cancer are:

• Laryngeal cancer
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma
• Ovarian cancer

Several diseases may develop following asbestos exposure. These may be malignant or benign.

Evidence suggests asbestos may cause gastrointestinal tumors, including bile duct cancer. Benign conditions include asbestosis, pleural effusion, pleural thickening and pleural plaques.

How many years does it take for asbestos-related diseases to develop?

Asbestos-related diseases are often latent, meaning they take several years to develop. According to the National Cancer Institute, it may take 20 to 60 years for symptoms of asbestos-related diseases to show.

What if I’ve been exposed to asbestos?

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, it’s important to speak with your doctor. They’ll perform screening tests to identify lung damage and diagnose asbestos-related diseases.

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