Asbestos-associated disease: a review.

Asbestos and its potential for adversely affecting health remain a source of concern to several sectors of society. Since it rarely occurs in the absence of occupational exposure to asbestos, and because it is potentially preventable, asbestosis was recently defined as a reportable occupational disease in Texas. An overview of the cardinal characteristics of the asbestos minerals and their associated health effects is presented. The role of the primary physician in diagnosis and counseling of individuals with asbestos-associated diseases is addressed.