Harmful exposure to asbestos primarily occurs through asbestos inhalation. Working with asbestos materials causes fibers to become airborne in the form of asbestos dust. Inhaling this dust exposes the lungs to the fibers which then cause damage to delicate lung tissues. Asbestos inhalation is known to cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers. Besides cancer, asbestos inhalation also causes a lung condition known as asbestosis. With asbestosis, scarring from prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers causes impaired lung function which presents as coughing and shortness of breath. In extreme cases, asbestosis can cause disability or death, even in the absence of asbestos-related cancers or mesothelioma.