Asbestos exposure has been connected to several life-threatening diseases. Lung cancer and Mesothelioma are two of the deadly diseases that are caused asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can also cause a non-cancerous but progressive disease known as asbestosis, which affects the lung tissue causing scars.
                 Almost all of asbestos exposure linked sicknesses happen because of the asbestos fibers inhalation. People inhale asbestos particles as a result of asbestos exposure and the fibers become lodged in lung tissue. Most asbestos diseases do not exhibit symptoms until after many years have passed, it may even take decades after the first asbestos exposure. However, few people show severe health problems within some weeks or months of initial asbestos exposure. The period corresponding to the actual asbestos exposure is also linked to the seriousness of the disease. Individuals with long term asbestos exposure usually experience more severe health problems than individuals with lesser duration of asbestos exposure.
                 There are many sources of asbestos exposure such as building sites, schools, insulation, asbestos products, and others. Once regularly used because of its high strength, elasticity, and insulating properties, asbestos is now recognized as cancer causing material. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer, as well as some other cancers and health issues.
Asbestos exposure can cause serious health issues. Every precaution should be taken to avoid the products and places that could lead to asbestos exposure.             
                 One of the main sources of asbestos exposure is the workplace. It is estimated that about 1.3 million people who work in construction and general industry are being exposed to high levels asbestos. Asbestos exposure occurs because of the asbestos fibers that are released in the air when asbestos is disturbed. These fibers than may be inhaled by workers or may be carried away to other locations as they stick to their clothes, shoes, hair and skin. The other asbestos exposure source at workplace is the manufacturing of the products that contain asbestos. Products that are used for insulation, building, textile, brakes for automobiles and friction products all contain asbestos. Many regulatory agencies like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have formulated many regulations and guidelines regarding the use of asbestos in the workplace.
                Schools are also main source of asbestos exposure. Many schools during 1950’s used asbestos spray on ceilings of their classrooms because of its fire resisting properties and also for acoustic properties. Asbestos was also used in other parts of school buildings like plumbing, beams, pipes and boilers as an insulating agent. It was also used on interior and exterior walls for insulating purpose. The dried asbestos spray flakes off from the classroom ceiling over the time and stay in the air for days leading to asbestos exposure in schools. Unfortunately not enough steps have been taken yet to reduce or eliminate the risks of asbestos exposure in schools.
                Homes like schools also used asbestos products during 1900’s. Products like asbestos cements, bricks, asbestos components for boilers and finances, asbestos flooring, wall insulation, ceiling tiles, attic insulation, pipe insulation and many other household products and applications are all source of asbestos exposure at home. When the asbestos is disturbed or removed or its condition deteriorates, asbestos fibers are released in the air and inhaled by those living there causing asbestos poisoning.