Breathing in asbestos fibres has been linked to three respiratory diseases, all of which can be fatal: 

• Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that can lead to respiratory impairment and to diseases such as lung cancer
  
• Mesothelioma is a cancer in two forms - pleural which is a tumour of the lung; and peritoneal, which is a cancer of the abdominal cavity
  
• Lung cancer caused by asbestos cannot be distinguished from those cancers that are caused by other agents such as tobacco smoke.