Abstract
BACKGROUND: Asbestos was used in spray applied textured ceilings from 1945 to at least 1980. Exposure to asbestos and the probability of developing lung disease is high in individuals who lived with these types of ceilings in their home. Asbestos exposure and frequency of disease is even higher in an apartment suffering from flooding, maintenance, and/or multiple structural impacts. PURPOSE: Our goal is to examine a case of lung cancer in a non-smoking individual exposed to asbestos from the damaged acoustic ceilings in her apartment. METHODS: The subject's medical and occupational records were obtained and reviewed and a physical examination was performed. Exposure ratings were obtained from previous literature for discussion purposes. CONCLUSION: Asbestos-textured ceilings are a possible source of asbestos exposure and there may be a risk of developing cancer in individuals exposed to ceiling deterioration.