Exposure to its tiny fibers, particularly over a period of time, can lead to asbestos-related diseases that include lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, according to the U.S. National Institutes for Health.

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In other large product-liability cases, such as cigarettes or asbestos, there seems to be a well-established link between the products and a specific disease, such as asbestosis or lung cancer.

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Used as a fire retardant in buildings, asbestos fibres can cause the fatal lung cancer mesothelioma, and the scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis.

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