Asbestos exposure can cause several serious health effects including cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure that affects the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers that results in scarring of the lungs and difficulty breathing. Long term, high intensity exposure to asbestos puts people at risk of developing asbestosis and lung cancer, and asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma.