Is asbestos dust dangerous?

Yes. Asbestos dust is highly dangerous. There is still a great deal of asbestos in place in older buildings. Stripping it out is high risk. Breathing air containing asbestos dust can lead to potentially fatal asbestos-related diseases, mainly cancers of the chest and lungs. Asbestos-related diseases kill more people than any other single work-related cause:

• Asbestos related diseases (mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer) are thought to kill around 4,000 people a year, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). 
• Other workers may suffer from less serious lung conditions.

Despite the scientific evidence, claims are made in some quarters that asbestos is "not really a risk to health". The HSE confirmed back in 2002 that all forms of asbestos, including white asbestos or chrysotile, are a major health hazard. It says all asbestos can cause cancer and the vast bulk of scientific evidence in the UK and abroad regards the risk from white asbestos as proven.