Asbestos is a mineral fibre that when inhaled can cause lung disease. The lung disease can take a number of different forms, but sad to say that there are not many specific treatments for any of these - it's mainly supportive care with oxygen, pain relief, etc. I'll try to summarize the different types as follows: 1. Pleural plaques - these are benign and generally don't cause problems, or only very mild symptoms. They are evidence of asbestos exposure. 2. Pleural disease - a slightly different form, with more severe thickening which can impair breathing. 3. Asbestosis - diffuse lung disease that is usually slowly progressive and can be fatal in the end-stage, causing respiratory failure. 4. Mesothelioma - the most feared form, effectively