HistoryOccupational disease is defined as the disease resulting from the situations to which a particular type of worker is exposed and the disease must be acquired as a natural accident of a particular occupation. Asbestos, widely used until the early 1980s in major industries, is one such agent that can cause serious health risks for workers exposed to it. Although almost everyone is exposed to it; because it is present at low levels in air, water and soil, health effects are usually only seen in people exposed to it for a longer period of time, mainly in the workplace (asbestos exposure and risk of cancer). Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals in the form of thin, durable fibers that are resistant to heat, fire, chemicals and do not conduct electricity. Asbestos has been mined and used in many industries such as construction, automotive and shipbuilding. These asbestos minerals are divided into two main groups, serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. Serpentine asbestos is the most commonly used form in commercial applications. Amphibole can remain in the lungs for a longer period and is therefore considered the more harmful of the two (asbestos exposure and cancer risk). Asbestos has been used commercially in the United States since the 1800s, with its greatest use occurring between the 1930s and 1970s. Asbestos was used primarily in building and construction for insulation, roofing, fire protection, to strengthen concrete and plastics, and for sound absorption. It is also used in shipbuilding to insulate boilers, steam and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos for vehicle clutch pads and brake pads. Other uses of asbestos have been in ceiling and floor tiles, paints, cladding... middle of paper......stos-facts-statistics.htmBeckett, WS, O'Reilly, KM, & Mclaughliin, A. M. (2007, March 1). Asbestos-related lung disease. American Family Physician, 683-688.Elmes, P. (1977). Investigation into the dangerous use of asbestos. Northern Ireland 1960-76. Ulster Med J, 71-80.OSHA fact sheet. (2002). Retrieved from Asbestos: https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_AsbestosFacts/asbestos-factsheet.pdfSelikoff, I. (1976). Lung cancer and mesothelioma during prospective surveillance of 1,249 asbestos insulation plant workers. NYAcad.Sci, 448-456.Selikoff, I., Hammond, E., & Siedman, H. (1979). Insulation worker mortality experience in the United States and Canada. Ann.NYAcad.Sci., 91-116.State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities 2010. (2010). American Lung Association. Retrieved from http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/publications/lung-disease-data/solddc_2010.pdf