One of the major dangers of asbestos is that its fibers can become airborne. When this happens, they can easily be inhaled by anyone in the vicinity, and these fibers have a chance to stick in the membranous lining of the abdomen, heart, or lungs. In many cases, these fibers present no immediate threat, and they will not make a person suddenly violently ill or send them to the hospital. It is the potential, over time, for the fibers to cause an abnormal cell division leading to the cancer known as malignant mesothelioma that is the real threat this substance possesses.

Most asbestos lung cancer starts in the lining of the bronchi, the tubes into which the trachea or windpipe divides. However, asbestos lung cancer can also begin in other areas such as the trachea, bronchioles (small branches of the bronchi), or alveoli (lung air sacs). Although lung cancer usually develops slowly, once it occurs, cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Smoking harms you and your environment! That is well know, nevertheless you can see many people outside with a cigarette in their hand. The reason: The course of lung cancer is often unnoticed. This leads to a late diagnosis -- which leaves little time for doctors and patients to fight the disease. But there is hope: In future, a blood test may be able to give evidence if lung cancer is present or not.