J61: Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibres

Pneumoconiosis due to asbestos and other mineral fibres is a group of lung diseases caused by the inhalation of dust from asbestos or similar mineral fibres. When these microscopic fibres are breathed in, they can enter the lungs and damage the tissue, leading to scarring and thickening, a condition commonly known as fibrosis. The disease generally progresses slowly, and early on may not cause any noticeable symptoms. As the disease advances, symptoms such as shortness of breath, persistent dry cough, tightness in the chest, and eventually loss of appetite and weight loss, might appear. The exposure typically happens in workplaces where asbestos and other mineral fibres are used, such as construction, shipbuilding, and textile industries. This illness is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.