If you end up breathing asbestos fibers, it can increase the risk of serous diseases. Some examples are lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. It may also increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, which includes colon cancer. Asbestos is dangerous when fibers become airborne. That is because once a person ingests or inhales asbestos, the fiber can’t be removable from the body. The fibers can cause irritation and scarring over time if it’s embed into the tissue.