Mesothelioma
A cancer of the lining of the lungs or, less often, the abdomen. HSE describes it as always fatal and almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
NHS informationWhat exposure can lead to
Asbestos Health Risks
Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause serious diseases, usually decades later. Here is what HSE and the NHS say, and when to speak to a doctor.
Why asbestos is dangerous
Asbestos only harms health when fibres are released into the air and breathed in. HSE's latest statistics (July 2026) put asbestos-related deaths in Great Britain at around 5,000 a year, including 2,146 mesothelioma deaths in 2024 (a provisional figure). Most current deaths are linked to very high exposures in past industrial work and the installation of asbestos products.
The effect is cumulative: the more fibres someone breathes in, and the longer the exposure goes on, the higher the risk. HSE says it can take between 15 and 60 years for symptoms to appear, which is why people exposed young are at greater risk over their lifetime. Tradespeople and maintenance workers who disturb the fabric of older buildings are among those most at risk today.
Asbestos-related lung cancer
Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. HSE describes it as almost always fatal. Smoking greatly adds to the risk.
Asbestosis
Scarring of the lungs after heavy exposure over time. It is not always fatal but can be very debilitating, and it cannot be cured.
NHS informationDiffuse pleural thickening
Thickening of the membrane around the lungs, which can restrict breathing and cause breathlessness.
Pleural plaques, patches of thickening on the lining of the lungs, are also caused by asbestos exposure. HSE describes them as less serious and usually symptomless.
Worried about past exposure?
HSE says many short, accidental exposures, such as drilling into a board once, are likely to have involved very few fibres and have little likelihood of long-term harm.
If you are concerned, see your GP. Ask them to note the possible exposure on your record: when it happened, for how long, and the type of material if you know it. HSE does not recommend routine X-rays after an accidental exposure, because asbestos damage takes years to show.
Symptoms to take seriously
The NHS lists shortness of breath, a persistent cough, wheezing, extreme tiredness and chest or shoulder pain among the symptoms of asbestosis. If you have symptoms like these and think you have been exposed to asbestos, see a GP.
If you're not sure what help you need, contact NHS 111 online or by calling 111. In an emergency, call 999.
Sources: HSE asbestos FAQs, HSE asbestos-related disease statistics 2026, NHS: asbestosis, NHS: mesothelioma. This page is general information, not medical advice. Last reviewed September 2026.
More asbestos guidance
What is asbestos?Types of asbestos and where it was used in UK buildingsIdentifying asbestos and staying safeWhy you can't tell by looking, and what to do if something is damagedAsbestos surveysManagement and refurbishment and demolition surveys explainedTesting and samplingHow samples are taken and analysedProfessional removalLicensed and non-licensed work, and what to expectAsbestos removal costsTypical price ranges and what affects them
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