"<p>WHAT IS ASBESTOS?<br>Asbestos is a strong, fire-resistant mineral fiber. In the past, asbestos was used as insulation against heat<br>or noise and for fire protection. It was also added to materials such as cement and plaster to give them<br>more structural strength.<br>DISEASES CAUSED BY ASBESTOS:<br>ASBESTOSIS: An irreversible lung condition, asbestosis results from the inhalation of asbestos fibers over<br>an extended period and progresses even after exposure to asbestos diseases. In cases of asbestosis, scar<br>tissue stiffens and distorts the lungs, making breathing progressively more difficult; as the blood supply to<br>the lungs become impaired, the heart is put under strain by the reduced efficiency of the lungs. The<br>thickening of the alveoli, the air sacs, caused by the action of the asbestos fibers reduces the uptake of<br>oxygen and the discharge of carbon dioxide. The higher the exposure, the greater the chances of<br>developing asbestosis and the shorter the time it takes. Asbestosis tends to be linked to heavy occupational<br>exposure although cases of asbestosis among those not occupationally exposed, such as residents who<br>lived near asbestos-using factories, have been known.<\/p>"