Which diseases are associated with asbestos?
WHO classifies all asbestos forms as carcinogenic. Exposure can cause mesothelioma, certain cancers and asbestosis. These diseases can develop long after exposure. The absence of immediate symptoms therefore cannot determine future consequences.
Which symptoms and tests?
Persistent coughing, breathlessness or chest pain warrant medical advice but do not alone establish an asbestos link. The doctor chooses tests based on exposure history and clinical assessment. INRS is used here for medical information, not to apply French regulations in Belgium.
How can you prepare for a consultation?
Write down past occupations, relevant buildings or tasks, periods and symptoms. Bring available exposure records. State uncertainties: an approximate date is better than invented precision. A positive material test describes that material; it is not your medical diagnosis.
For this step: I may have inhaled asbestos: what should I do? · Asbestos-related disease: compensation in Belgium