Asbestosis
Asbestosis takes place when tiny asbestos fibers (fibers sometimes used in construction) are inhaled and become lodged in the lungs where they cause scarring. Over time, the lungs become stiff causing shortness of breath.
The inhalation of asbestos fibers can also cause the pleura (membrane covering the lungs) to thicken. Tumors of the pleura could also develop (mesothelioma).
Asbestos inhalation is also associated with lung cancer in people who smoke. Nonsmokers who are exposed to asbestos are at no greater risk for asbestosis than nonsmokers who are not exposed.