In reply to Al Evans:
The problem with asbestos is the fibres are long and thin, so arrowing down your airways, and tend to be durable, so persist when you are exposed to them. They can "harpoon" macrophages in the lungs as they try and engulf them, leaving a cellular kebab. The wounded macrophage leaks a number of substances, inclued a variety of reactive oxygen species, these cause a prolonged bout of cell damage that over time can lead to DNA damage end eventually cancer.
One of the key determinants of fibre toxicity is durability, very soluble oned dont to cause long term problems, the more durable asbestoe ones do, and we have the epidemic to prove it.
The insurance industry has been fighting a rear guard action for years to svoid costly pay outs. One problem we are becoming aware of now (see HSE website) is mesothelioma in a number of building trades, who disturb asbestos in older housing that had asbestos cement in its fabric, not just those working directly with asbestos.
Indeed, there are cases of close wives of asbestos workers getting mesothelioma as a consequence of secondary exposure from their work clothes. Not a brief subject.