There are several types of asbestos fibres, namely chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite. Of these, crocidolite is the most dangerous with regards to causing pulmonary disease, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, fibrosis, pleural plaques, pleural fibrosis, pleural effusion and lung cancer.
The problem with asbestos exposure is that pulmonary disease may take twenty or more years to develop. This has led to much litigation with regards to people who were exposed to asbestos during their work, especially asbestos miners, builders, carpenters and asbestos removers.