can you get asbestosis from coming into contact with it just once? I was digging out a foundation when i came across a big pile of it someone had buried years ago - it was loose pipe cladding asbestos and I must have breathed in loads of it before I realised what it was - any advice?

Your risks are very small with one exposure. I am assuming that you are a non-smoker. If you do smoke that is going to give you the biggest risk.

If the source of the asbestos is known, i.e. the company involved, it is worth getting a check up and a chest X-ray now, and getting your GP to record the incident in your records, on the minute chance that you should get a problem years from now.

First symptom of lung cancer is probably resistant cough, anyone whose cough has been present for 4 weeks or more should be chest x-rayed again.

Your risk is greater if you were exposed to large amounts of it from an early age for a very long period of time. But there are some cases that say they have no history of any heavy exposure to asbestos.

You are looking at a minuscule statistical risk, perhaps 20 years + from now. You will need to see your doctor who should send you for a scan.Good Luck hard coughing See a doctor. Now. Im the meantime, some of the symptoms are as follows:

chest wall pain

pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung

shortness of breath

wheezing, hoarseness, or cough

abdominal pain