What Is Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a chronic lung scarring condition that results from inhaling large amounts of asbestos fibers in the air. It is also classified as an interstitial lung disease, or ILD. ILDs are conditions that cause inflammation and progressive scarring to lung tissue.

Asbestosis develops in the lungs through the scarring of lung tissue (pulmonary fibrosis). The scarring happens when a person inhales large amounts of asbestos fibers over a long period of time. The microscopic fibers irritate the tissue of the lungs, leading to inflammation and scarring.

The severity of the disease may be linked to how long someone was exposed to asbestos and the amount they inhaled. While there is no cure for asbestosis, medical treatment can help ease symptoms.

Asbestosis vs. mesothelioma

Asbestosis is not a malignant condition. This means it will not spread to other organs and is not cancerous, like mesothelioma or lung cancer. However, a person can develop asbestosis along with lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Doctors diagnose asbestosis by reviewing a patient’s medical records, history of exposure and medical tests that show scarring of the lung tissues. Doctors order bronchoscopies, chest X-rays, CT scans and breathing tests to help determine the severity of the asbestosis and how well the lungs are working.

Asbestosis treatment

There is no cure for asbestosis. However, patients can pursue treatments to help slow the progression and manage their symptoms. Treatment may include certain therapies, medications or surgeries. Some things a doctor might suggest to a patient managing asbestosis include:

• Oxygen treatments: Oxygen can help those with asbestosis get more air into their lungs.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation: Pulmonary exercise helps asbestosis patients sustain maximum activity levels.
• Quit smoking: Smoking can speed up the progression of asbestosis.
• Surgery: In rare cases, a patient might be referred to a specialist for lung transplant surgery.

Asbestosis patients can help manage their condition by avoiding more exposure to asbestos. They can also get flu, pneumonia and COVID-19 vaccinations to lower their risk of lung infection.

People in certain occupations are at a higher risk of asbestosis. Some of these occupations include:

• Construction workers
• Electricians
• HVAC technicians
• Industrial/manufacturing workers
• Mechanics
• Military veterans, including those serving in the Navy
• Millers
• Miners
• Railroad and shipyard workers

Not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop asbestosis. The longer and more intense the exposure, the greater the chances of asbestosis.

The symptoms of asbestosis commonly include:

• Chest pain and tightness
• Crackling sound while inhaling
• Difficulty exercising
• Extreme fatigue
• Nail clubbing
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss

The symptoms and signs of asbestosis may not show up for decades after long-term asbestos exposure.

Those who developed asbestosis from asbestos exposure might be eligible to file an asbestosis lawsuit, as long as they meet the proper qualifications. These include:

• Medical documentation confirming a diagnosis of mesothelioma
• Exposure history identifying where, when and how they came into contact with asbestos-containing materials
• Timely filing within the applicable statute of limitations, which varies by state and may start upon diagnosis or discovery of the illness

Potential asbestosis claims may include product liability, failure to warn and corporate negligence. Lawsuits must be filed within the statute of limitations for the appropriate state.

Legal options for asbestosis victims

Several options are available for asbestosis victims seeking compensation, such as:

• Bankruptcy trust claims: Filed with asbestos trusts created to pay victims. More than 100 companies that historically used asbestos have since filed for bankruptcy and created a trust to manage claims. Payouts are typically based on a matrix of exposure details and disease severity.
• Individual lawsuits: Filed against companies that manufactured, supplied or installed asbestos products. These cases are highly fact-specific and often involve expert testimony and historical research.
• Veterans benefits: Veterans diagnosed with asbestosis might qualify for VA disability compensation, healthcare and other benefits if they can demonstrate their asbestosis is linked to their military service.

Some people may be eligible to file bankruptcy trust claims and lawsuits against various defendants. An asbestosis attorney can help individuals examine their legal options, depending on their specific situation, and establish a connection between their illness and a specific product, employer or job site.

What are the signs of asbestosis?

The common signs and symptoms of asbestosis, which may take decades to appear, include:

• Crackles or rales when inhaling
• Chest pain
• Constant cough
• Chronic fatigue
• Clubbing of the nails
• Difficulty breathing while exercising
• Inexplicable weight loss
• Shortness of breath

What causes asbestosis?

Asbestosis is caused by extended exposure to dust containing asbestos. Certain types of occupations are known for long-term asbestos exposure that may put individuals at a higher risk for asbestosis. These include:

• Auto and airplane mechanics
• Construction workers
• Electrical workers
• Miners, installers or removers of asbestos
• Railroad and shipyard employees

What kind of compensation can I receive from an asbestosis lawsuit?

The compensation received in an asbestosis lawsuit depends on the specific facts of the claim but may cover medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering damages. Surviving family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit for funeral expenses, loss of companionship and other damages if a loved one dies because of asbestos exposure.

Motley Rice attorneys have been pioneers in asbestos litigation for decades, representing thousands of individuals and families harmed by asbestos exposure. Our legal team helped uncover corporate knowledge of asbestos dangers and hold companies accountable through personal injury, wrongful death and product liability claims.

We continue to litigate asbestos cases nationwide, often taking them all the way to trial when necessary. Whether filing an asbestos lawsuit or a trust claim, our team brings deep experience to each asbestos case. Our firm understands the long-term toll asbestos exposure can take not just on the individual, but on entire families.

Read more on our asbestos exposure litigation experience.