Diseases associated with asbestos typically have a long latency period. The onset of asbestosis, for example, averages from about 10 to 20 years after exposure. There are many factors that influence the length of the latency period in asbestos-related illnesses. The latency period for malignant mesothelioma is the amount of time between exposure to asbestos and the time when the disease becomes apparent clinically. Higher exposure to asbestos may result in a shorter latency period.
For pleural mesothelioma, the mean latency period was 35 years.
Asbestos was called "the magic mineral" because its unique chemical composition and physical properties made it suitable for use in thousands of products from floor tiles to road signs. Asbestosis is an irreversible and progressive lung condition which results from the inhalation of asbestos fibres over an extended period. The latency period for lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure is usually between fifteen and thirty-five years.
