Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of getting mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. It's still not known if the risk decreases once exposure ends.

A mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers are trapped in the lung's lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are many different kinds of mesothelioma. There are many types of mesothelioma.

Age

The chances of a person developing mesothelioma depend on several factors. This includes the age at which the person's first exposure to asbestos, the type of asbestos used and the length of exposure. The symptoms of mesothelioma generally begin in the lungs and later spread to other parts of the body. So, people who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are the most likely to develop the condition. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The older a person is when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma, more severe the condition is. This is due to the 20-60 year time between exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a natural mineral with fibrous bundles which can form into thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable substance. Between the 1930s to 1980s its durability and flexibility made asbestos a sought-after material. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos via occupational or secondary exposure. The term occupational exposure refers to the time when workers are exposed to asbestos (from this source) in their work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos case fibers are carried to home via hair, clothing or skin and inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lung's lining as well as other organs such as the heart. As time passes this irritation can lead to inflammation, scarring, and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma is primarily a cancer of the pleura which is the tissue that protects the lungs. However, it may also affect other organs like the stomach and heart.

People who have a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed asbestos when they work in certain industries or in the military. However, those who have been exposed to asbestos in their homes or other sources may also be at risk.

People who have the BAP1 mutation also have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. The majority of them are diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. This is probably due to the fact that men were employed in industries that were more prone to asbestos exposure. Men may have also carried home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from job places. Asbestos is usually found in factories and mines and those that produced asbestos settlement products such as insulation, pipes tiles, cement and tiles most at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has also been found in those who built or repaired railroad or automotive products, and also those who constructed ships and manufactured gas masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most popular type of asbestos is typically associated with mesothelioma.

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases depending on the duration and severity of exposure to asbestos compensation. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos for a period of 30 or more years. A person's latency period may also vary depending on their gender as well as the type of asbestos attorney exposure.

It is unclear the reason women have a longer time to develop mesothelioma. One reason is that many of the women with mesothelioma worked as housekeepers and could have come in contact with asbestos through washing the work clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

In the past, when mesothelioma was more prevalent, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial and residential building materials. The fibers could be found in drywall, insulation, pipe coating, paint and cement. Many of these materials were employed in workplaces and homes in which asbestos was often disturbed by construction or renovations.

While mesothelioma was used as an industrial product, asbestos was found in a variety of structures, including schools, churches, hospitals and offices. Many of these buildings were constructed before the 1980s, when asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a nebulous substance, and scientists are continuing to study its effects on health, particularly mesothelioma. Studies are looking at how asbestos affects both the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract, which is where mesothelioma is most often found in patients. They are also looking into the impact of different factors on mesothelioma rate, including gender and the level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is more likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was used for many years. Asbestos was widely used in building and construction particularly from the 1920s to the 1980s. Many jobs were at risk of exposure including mining, manufacturing, power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is heat-resistant and strong making it ideal in a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used to make brake pads, insulation, and roofing, to name a few. When asbestos is cut or disturbed and released, it releases tiny particles that can be breathed in or swallowed.

Mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 60 years after exposure to develop, however it can occur much earlier than that. It can occur in the lung (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the abdomen.

It is unclear why people who have mesothelioma-related history are at higher risk of developing the disease. A mutation in a gene known as BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma but it is rare.

A person could be at risk for mesothelioma if they lived with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers to their clothing hair, skin and even their hair. This is called secondary exposure. Workers in industries that have high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home-grown fibers onto their footwear and clothing. These fibers could be breathed in by family members or consumed at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung disease to mesothelioma typically occurs as a result of breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is most often seen in the lungs and can cause fluid buildup around the rib cage, difficulty breathing, a cough, chest pain and a lump on the ribcage.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, mainly because asbestos was used extensively here for a long time in construction manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first discovered the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which prompted England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced businesses to install ventilation systems and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Mesothelioma, like many cancers is caused by cells that receive faulty genetic information. They grow unchecked. When these cells are located in the lung (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium) and they are able to cause abnormal growths known as tumors. There is no known cure for mesothelioma. However, there are several risk factors that can increase the chances of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is a major mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs irritate the lung's lining and chest wall, which may cause mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos while at work are more likely to developing mesothelioma compared to those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos the person was exposed to is also important. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and a individual's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos is more prone to mesothelioma than amphiboles such as amosite or crocidolite.

Mesothelioma can also be a risk factor for someone if they have an ancestry of the disease. Mesothelioma is not common in children and younger adults, but it can develop in young adults if they were around an adult who worked with asbestos. People who are mesothelioma sufferer or with mesothelioma are at an increased risk of developing the disease, due to the fact that they breathe in stray asbestos fibers on hair, skin, and clothing.

The type of work a person performed can affect the chance of developing mesothelioma. Workers who worked on power plants, ships or other locations where asbestos was used have more mesothelioma risks than those who were not exposed to asbestos. People who worked in certain industries, like manufacturing and construction, also have a higher rate of mesothelioma than others.

The age, gender and race of a person may affect their mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women, as are those who have a family history of the disease. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries, and men typically were more likely than others to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.