Breathing air containing asbestos dust can cause cancer and many other diseases of the lungs and chest, but the TUC explains that its lethal effects may not show up for years or even decades. Asbestos has been the main cause of occupational illness since around 1950 and is “still the greatest single work-related cause of death from ill health”, according to the TUC. HSE figures show that more than 5,000 people die prematurely every year as a result of asbestos exposure.