Risks of Asbestos
Generally speaking, the presence of asbestos in home building materials does not pose a health risk unless the material is broken, deteriorating, or disturbed in such a way that dust-containing-asbestos fibres is produced such as during sanding or sawing.

It is difficult to tell whether a building material contains asbestos. The only way to be certain is to have a sample of the material tested in an accredited laboratory. If you do not want to test the material then it should be treated as though it contains asbestos.

Types of Diseases Associated with Asbestos
Asbestos-related disease is generally associated with long term exposure to asbestos in an occupational setting. Asbestos exposure has been linked to a range of diseases including:

Pleural plaque - thickened patches of scar tissue on the lining
of the lung.
Asbestosis - progressive scar tissue inside the lungs that
impairs breathing.
Lung cancer - can develop decades after being exposed to
asbestos. Smokers and those people with asbestosis are most
susceptible.
Mesothelioma - a type of cancer which affects the lining of the
lung and lining of the chest wall and diaphragm. It can develop
decades after the asbestos exposure.