Exposure Pathway
Asbestos is neither volatile nor soluble; however, small fibers may occur in suspension in both air and water, making inhalation and ingestion possible.
Inhalation-Occupational studies have found that asbestos exposure via inhalation can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the membranes lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding internal organs). Ingestion-Epidemiological studies have found exposure to asbestos in drinking water can cause cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Asbestos fibers have even been found in such samples as urine, feces, or mucus.
Most asbestos fibers are expelled after inhalation; however some fibers remain lodged in the lungs for a lifetime. Asbestos fibers build up in the lung, which causes scarring and inflammation, which affects breathing and eventually leads to disease.