Mesothelioma – Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of developing mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. It’s still not known if the risk decreases after exposure stops.

A mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers become stuck in the lung’s lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are several different types of mesothelioma. There are several types of mesothelioma.

Age

The chance of someone developing mesothelioma are based on a variety of factors. This includes the age at which the first exposure to asbestos and the type of asbestos and the length of exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms usually start in the lungs and spread to other body parts. 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 diagnosed with mesothelioma, more severe the disease. This is due to the 20-60 year time 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 into an impermeable material. From the 1930s until the 1980s its durability and flexibility 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 in their workplace. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are brought to home via hair, clothing or skin and unknowingly inhaled by family members.

When inhaled, asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lining of the lungs and other organs like the heart. In time this irritation can lead to scarring, inflammation and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma is predominantly a cancer of pleura, which is the tissue that protects the lung. It can also affect other parts of the body, like the stomach and the heart.

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

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

Gender

Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma more than women. This is likely because men were employed in industries that were more prone to asbestos exposure. Men could also have brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothes from work locations. Asbestos is typically found in mines and factories and those that produced asbestos products such as insulation, pipes, tiles and cement most at risk of developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is also found in those who repaired or constructed automobile and railroad equipment and also those who constructed ships and masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most common type of asbestos is usually associated with mesothelioma.

The chance of developing mesothelioma is increased with the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos for more than 30 years. The length of time a person’s latency may be different based on their gender and type of asbestos exposure.

It is not clear why women have a higher latency for mesothelioma. One reason could be that a lot of the women who develop mesothelioma were domestic workers and may have come into contact with asbestos while washing the work clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

When mesothelioma was more widespread, asbestos was used in a variety of commercial and domestic building materials. The fibers were present in drywalls, pipe coatings as well as paints and cements. A lot of these products were employed in workplaces and homes in which asbestos was frequently disturbed during construction or renovations.

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

Asbestos is a complicated substance, and researchers continue to study its effects on health, particularly mesothelioma. Research studies are investigating how asbestos affects both the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which is where mesothelioma is most often found in patients. They are also examining the impact of different factors on mesothelioma rates, such as gender and the level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is more likely to develop mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure working in an industry where asbestos was extensively used. Asbestos was extensively 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 minerals. It is resistant to heat and strong making it ideal for a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used to make insulation, brake pads and roofing, among others. When asbestos is cut or smashed, it releases tiny particles that can be ingested or inhaled.

It can develop much earlier than 60 years. It can develop in the lungs, in the chest wall (peritoneal pleural mesothelioma) or the abdomen.

It is not known the reason why those who have mesothelioma-related history are more at risk of developing the disease. A mutation in a gene called BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma but it is rare.

A person is also at risk for mesothelioma if they lived with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes, skin and hair. This is referred to as secondary exposure. Workers in areas that are exposed to asbestos are at risk of bringing home-grown fibers onto their shoes and clothing. These can be inhaled or ingested by loved ones at home.

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

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma the world, mostly because asbestos compensation was extensively used here for many years in building manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first identified the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which helped drive England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These laws forced businesses to install ventilation equipment and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Like many types of cancer, mesothelioma can be caused by cells that receive incorrect genetic information and grow unchecked. When these cells are in the lungs (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium) and they are able to cause abnormal growths called tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However there are many factors that can increase the risk of developing the disease.

Asbestos exposure is a major mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs can cause irritation to the lung’s lining as well as the chest wall, which could result in mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos at work are more likely to developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos a person was exposed to is also crucial. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs and a individual’s health. For example, chrysotile asbestos has a higher risk of mesothelioma compared to amphiboles, such as crocidolite or amosite.

A person’s mesothelioma-related family history can also increase the mesothelioma risks. Mesothelioma is rare in younger adults and children however it may develop in young adults if they were around an adult who worked with asbestos. People who are mesothelioma-related illness or with mesothelioma are at an increased risk of developing the disease because they are more likely to breathe asbestos fibers that are on hair, skin and clothing.

The kind of work an individual did can also affect the risk of developing mesothelioma. Those who worked on power plants, ships, or other places where asbestos was used have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed to asbestos. People who worked in certain industries, like manufacturing and construction, have a higher mesothelioma risk than others.

The race, gender, age and gender could also play a role in his or her mesothelioma. Men and those who have a family history are more likely to get mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and males are more likely than other individuals to be exposed to asbestos at work.