Asbestos may become dangerous when it is inhaled.

Asbestos may become dangerous when it is inhaled.

• A. Is heated
• B. Is dissolved
• C. Is ingested
• D. Is inhaled

Answer: (D)

Asbestos becomes dangerous primarily when its fibers are inhaled. Those tiny, respirable fibers can reach the deepest parts of the lungs and lodge in lung tissue, where they cause chronic irritation, inflammation, and scarring. Over time this can lead to diseases such as asbestosis and significantly increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Heating or dissolving the material doesn’t create the same inhalation hazard, and while some fibers may be swallowed, ingestion isn’t the route that drives the major health risks. So the danger stems from inhaling the fibers.

Asbestos becomes dangerous primarily when its fibers are inhaled. Those tiny, respirable fibers can reach the deepest parts of the lungs and lodge in lung tissue, where they cause chronic irritation, inflammation, and scarring. Over time this can lead to diseases such as asbestosis and significantly increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Heating or dissolving the material doesn’t create the same inhalation hazard, and while some fibers may be swallowed, ingestion isn’t the route that drives the major health risks. So the danger stems from inhaling the fibers.