Ever done any sand blasting, gyprock sanding or been around concrete being broken up or sawn? Been near any building sites perhaps? Any demolition or renovation work?

Silicosis is a far bigger general health threat than asbestos and more widespread. It doesn't seem to invoke the same level of emotional fear.

It's a bit like the number of people being killed every year by sharks or by donkeys. We are terrified by one but not by the other one that is statistically far more dangerous.

Based on the study in the link below, which I admit is somewhat out of date, asbestos related disease is about 20 times more common than silicosis in Australia.
See page 15 for graph.

http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB0QFjAAahUKEwiV6sWEjITHAhWMKZQKHYBwBJk&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.safeworkaustralia.gov.au%2Fsites%2FSWA%2Fabout%2FPublications%2FDocuments%2F114%2FOccupationalrespiratoryDiseases_Australia_2006_ArchivePDF.pdf&ei=tr66VZW3M4zT0ASA4ZHICQ&usg=AFQjCNG7jPt-rEGsZnWAgtiyoBKEm4h30A&cad=rja