Why is Smoking Especially Dangerous?

It is important to know that the combination of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking is very harmful. A person's chance of developing lung cancer is increased approximately 5 times when there has been asbestos exposure but the person does not smoke cigarettes. The risk of developing lung cancer is increased approximately 10 times if a person smokes cigarettes but was not exposed to asbestos dust. Where there is asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking combined, however, a person's risk of developing lung cancer is increased as much as 50 to 90 times.

There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among people who have been exposed to asbestos dust, perhaps by as much as half after at least 5 years without smoking tobacco. Accordingly, smokers with asbestos exposure should try to quit smoking.

Read more about asbestos on our Asbestos Information Page