There are four main diseases associated with inhalation of asbestos fibres.
The latest figures for diseases associated with occupational exposure to asbestos many years ago, are summarised in the following table.
| Deaths from mesothelioma (2009) | 2 321 |
| Estimated asbestos related lung cancer deaths | 2 000* |
| Deaths from asbestosis without mention of mesothelioma (2009) | 411 |
| Newly assessed cases of asbestosis (IIDB) | 1 015 |
| Newly assessed cases of diffuse pleural thickening (IIDB) | 505 |
| Cases of non malignant pleural disease reported to specialist physicians (THOR/SWORD) | 778 |
* This figure has been rounded because it is an estimate rather than the number of actual deaths.
