Mesothelioma:  Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (the pleura) or the abdomen (peritoneum) that is almost invariably caused by asbestos exposure.  There are very few treatment options for this disease, and it is usually fatal.

Lung Cancer:  Lung cancer originates in the lung tissue itself, not the lining of the lung (the pleura).  Non-smokers have a five times greater risk of contracting lung cancer as a result of asbestos exposure, but workers who also have a history of smoking have a 50 to 100 times greater risk of contracting lung cancer as a consequence of asbestos exposure.  This compares to a 10-fold increase in the risk of lung cancer for persons who smoke but do not have a history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestosis:  Asbestosis is the scarring of the lung tissue itself from inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers.  Diagnosis of this disease requires a physical examination, a chest x-ray, and a breathing test.

Pleural Diseases:  Asbestos can cause benign scarring on the lining of the lung (the pleura).  This scarring is referred to as pleural plaques or pleural thickening.  Persons with pleural plaques or pleural thickening have a higher risk of contracting asbestosis.  Asbestos-induced pleural disease can also cause restrictive breathing impairment.