Asbestos Associated Lung Disease

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral. Its deposition can occur in any portion of the respiratory system. It is known that particles that penetrate to the alveoli are 1 µm or less in diameter, but asbestos fibers are the exception despite their length of 30 µm or more. Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are a heterogeneous group of lower respiratory tract disorders that share certain pathogenic mechanisms and histopathologic features. The common denominator among ILDs is the widespread disruption of alveolar walls and fibrosis. Asbestosis is the ILD produced by asbestos which affects the alveolar interstitium. The cause of most ILDs is still unknown. Different agents including environmental ones have been implicated, but further studies are necessary to understand and develop preventive measures that will benefit population at high risk to develop ILD.