Although there are many risk factors of lung cancer which can contribute to the development of the condition, exposure to asbestos may play a large role in the development of lung cancer.

Lung cancer is a familiar killer for many families. It is the most common type of cancer in the United States with around 20,000 Americans diagnosed with the disease every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that more Americans die from lung cancer than any other cancer.

The two main types of lung cancer include non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer accounts for around 85 percent of lung cancer tumors and small cell lung cancer accounts for the other 15 percent.

However, not every case of lung cancer is the same – partially because of the wide number of risk factors of lung cancer. Common risk factors of lung cancer include tobacco smoke — the most well known risk factor. But other risk factors do exist, including exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which has a natural resistance to heat, electricity, and corrosion. These qualities once made asbestos a widely used construction product and additive to products such as insulation, paint, plaster, and more, well in the 1900s.

Use of asbestos declined after news broke that the material can be toxic and may be among risk factors of lung cancer. Yet, even after research clearly indicated a link between the substance and cancer, there were reportedly a number of companies that failed to inform workers and consumers about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Further, the use of asbestos in building materials was so ubiquitous that the substance remains in buildings today and users must take care to protect themselves from exposure during demolition and construction.

Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

When asbestos or asbestos-containing products are moved, they release small asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers can be inhaled and ingested or can attach to clothes and be transported home, where they can cause secondhand exposure. After asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can be extremely difficult to expel. This means that the fibers can stay in the body for a long time, causing inflammation on a cellular level. Long term inflammation increases the risk for cell mutation and the development of cancer.

The CDC estimates around 4,800 deaths from lung cancer can be attributed to asbestos exposure. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology noted that nearly all asbestos lung cancer cases are associated with multiple risk factor of lung cancer including tobacco smoke exposure. However, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer more than just exposure to tobacco smoke.

A variety of occupations may have been exposed to asbestos including U.S. Navy, U.S. Military, shipyards workers, auto mechanics, paper mill workers, construction workers, textile workers, insulation installers, sheet metal workers, roofers, toll collectors, tilers, linotype technicians, and plumbers. All individuals who may have been exposed to cancer should monitor their health as they are at a higher risk of developing lung cancer in the future.

Some workers have filed lawsuits against their former employers, aiming to hold them liable for exposing their employees to risk factors of lung cancer. Other plaintiffs in lawsuits argue that employers should have warned their employees that they may be exposed to asbestos and should have provided protective measures to help mitigate risk factors of lung cancer.