Almost anyone associated with exposure of asbestos is at risk, although the cancer may take 15 to 30 years to appear after exposure. 

Risk of developing Mesothelioma is considered an occupational hazard and those at increased risk include the following:

Workers of an asbestos mine or mill 

Workers in shipyards 

Producers of asbestos products 

Workers in the heating and construction industries 

Friends and family of the workers in the above listed fields.

In Brazil an estimated 200,000 workers use asbestos in their jobs today.

In China, prisoners are forced to work in asbestos mines.

In USA only after many large legal battles have the asbestos consumption have fallen. It dropped from a peak of 800,000 metric tons in 1973 to 21,000 tons in 1996.

Asbestos related cancers is the worst occupational health disaster of the century . 171,500 workers in the United States have died of asbestos related cancers in the past 30 years

An additional 119,000 U.S. deaths are expected before the epidemic winds down in 2025.

Asbestos removal, has cost an estimated $50 billion over the past 20 years in USA - this is more a hysteria. Once installed the risk of exposure is minimum. The risk is for the worker installing it and not taking precaution.

Despite this minimal risk, asbestos continues to be removed from U.S. buildings at a cost of about $3 million a year.

For each life saved, asbestos removal cost $100 million to $500 million.