Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. However, it's not well established if the risk decreases once exposure stops.

The mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers become stuck in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are several types of mesothelioma. This includes:

Age

The chances of a person developing mesothelioma depend on several factors. These include the age of their initial exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos, and the length of exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms usually begin in the lungs and spread to other parts of the body. So, people who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are 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 period between exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral with fibrous bundles which can form into thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable substance. Between the 1930s and 1980s, its flexibility and durability made asbestos a popular material. During this time millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through secondary or occupational exposure. Workplace exposure occurs when employees are exposed to asbestos at work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are carried home on hair, clothing or skin, and then inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and other organs, including the heart. This irritation can cause inflammation, scarring and the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous cells over time.

Mesothelioma is primarily a cancer of the pleura, which is the tissue that protects the lungs. It can also affect other areas of the body, including the heart and stomach.

People who have a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed to 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 could also be at risk.

People with the BAP1 mutation also have a higher chance of developing mesothelioma. They are typically diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Mesothelioma is more common in males than females. This is probably due to the fact that men worked in areas that were more vulnerable to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from work locations. Asbestos is most often found in factories and mines which produce asbestos products such as pipes, insulation, tiles and cement most susceptible to developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has been observed in those who built or repaired railroad or automotive products, and also those who constructed ships and manufactured gas masks. Chrysotile exposure, the most well-known type of asbestos, is generally related to mesothelioma.

The likelihood of developing mesothelioma increases depending on the duration and severity of exposure to asbestos. The majority of cases of mesothelioma happen in people who have been exposed to asbestos for 30 or more years. The length of time a person's latency may be different based on their gender as well as the form of asbestos exposure.

While it is still unclear what exactly causes this, women appear to have a longer period of latency for mesothelioma compared to men. One reason is that many of the women who develop mesothelioma worked as domestic workers and could have come into contact with asbestos through washing the clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

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

Even when mesothelioma was being used as an industrial substance, asbestos was found in many types of structures, including schools churches, hospitals, and offices. A lot of these structures were built before the 1980s in which asbestos was banned.

asbestos compensation is a complicated substance, so researchers are continuing to study its health effects, specifically mesothelioma. Research is looking into how asbestos affects the lungs and the digestive tract, which is the area where mesothelioma is most often found in patients. They are also looking into how different factors can affect mesothelioma rate, including gender and level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is most likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was utilized for a long time. Asbestos was used extensively in construction and building in the 1920s through the 1980s. Numerous jobs were susceptible to exposure, such as mining, manufacturing power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos legal removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is heat-resistant and tough, making it useful for a variety products. The fibers of asbestos are used in insulation, brake pads and roofing, among other things. When asbestos is cut or smashed and released, it releases microscopic particles that may be ingested or inhaled.

It can develop much earlier than 60 years of age. It can be found in the lung (pleural mesothelioma), the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the abdomen.

People who have mesothelioma in their family are also at a higher risk of mesothelioma, but it isn't clear why. A mutation in a gene known as BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma, however it's a rare.

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

Asbestosis is a lung disease to mesothelioma often occurs as a result of breathing in asbestos litigation fibers. Asbestosis usually develops in the lungs and can cause fluid accumulation around the rib cage and cause breathing difficulties as well as chest pain and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma the world, mainly because asbestos was used extensively here throughout the years in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first reported the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which prompted England to adopt laws regulating asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced businesses to install ventilation 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 in the lungs (pleura) or abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the heart (pericardium) and they are able to cause abnormal growths called tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However, there are several risk factors that increase the chance of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is the primary mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lung's lining and chest wall, which can cause mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos (this guy) while at work have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma than people who were not exposed. The type of asbestos a person was exposed to is also important. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs as well as a person's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos has a higher risk of mesothelioma than amphiboles such as amosite or crocidolite.

Mesothelioma is also a risk factor for a person if they have an ancestry of the disease. Mesothelioma is rare in children and younger adults, but it can develop in young adults if they had an adult who worked with asbestos. People who live with a mesothelioma sufferer or who has mesothelioma have an increased chance of developing the disease due to the fact that they inhale asbestos fibers on hair, skin and clothing.

The kind of work a person performed can also impact the risk of developing mesothelioma. Workers who worked on power plants, ships, or other areas where asbestos was used have a higher mesothelioma risk than those who were not exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma incidences are higher for people who work in certain industries, such as construction or manufacturing.

A person's race, gender, age and gender can also play a role in his or her mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females and those with an ancestor with the disease. This is because women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries, and men typically were more likely than other individuals to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.