It can take five to 20 years for symptoms to develop. The accumulated, inhaled asbestos fibers lead to scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs. The lungs develop a "honeycomb" appearance. The scar tissue, or "fibrosis," is hard and inflexible - this makes the lungs stiff and impairs their function. For more details here: https://synchron-demolition.com/asbestos-removal/