It’s universally accepted that asbestos exposure increases the risk of malignant mesothelioma, but it can be a factor in the development of infectious disease as well because of its negative impact on the immune system. Tuberculosis—or TB—kills more people world-wide than any other infectious disease. While the victims of TB used to be primarily among the poor, those suffering from poor hygiene and nutrition, today’s leading risk factors are smoking, asbestos exposure and other factors that compromise the immune system. The World Health Organization estimates that about one third of the earth’s population has been exposed to TB, and any illness or toxic exposure that weakens the immune system can cause the disease to become reactive. India and China, countries where the level of asbestos exposure is high (see related story), account for 40 percent of the new cases of tuberculosis.
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