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.
"My research suggests something like 90% of the last 200, 000 to 300, 000 asbestosis claims that have been paid are bogus, " says Lester Brickman, a professor at Yeshiva University's law school.