Asbestos dangers are higher for those who work around the material on a regular basis. There are several types of asbestos fibers; some are more harmful than others. The primary concern with asbestos is that if it is inhaled or ingested in large amounts over a period of time, the asbestos can cause damage to the lining of the lungs. It also can affect the lining of the heart and the abdomen. When the damage becomes severe enough, it causes a type of cancer called Mesothelioma. Many people are already aware that they have been exposed to asbestos in the past but it can take up to 40 years to be diagnosed with the disease. Once it is diagnosed, most people only live from 6-18 months. Because the asbestos dangers have been ignored by companies for so long, there is a growing list of people who are filing and winning lawsuits. Corporations have been aware of the danger for some time and continued to expose workers and others to the harmful effects of the asbestos. Even now there are construction companies that have workers remodel old buildings and houses that are full of asbestos. Many of them choose not to tell the workers about the dangers.