Which of the following is NOT an asbestos-related illness?

• A. Silicosis
• B. Asbestosis
• C. Lung cancer
• D. Mesothelioma

Answer: (A)

Exposure to different mineral dusts produces distinct lung diseases. Silicosis comes from inhaling crystalline silica dust (found in sand, stone, concrete, mining) and causes lung fibrosis, but it is not linked to asbestos. The other conditions are associated with asbestos exposure: asbestosis is fibrosis from inhaled asbestos fibers, mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen strongly tied to asbestos, and lung cancer risk is increased with asbestos exposure (especially when combined with smoking). So the one that isn’t related to asbestos is the silica-related silicosis.