The causes of mesothelioma
A major cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Whenever asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, the fibers cause scarring and inflammation in the body, which can lead to the development of a mesothelioma tumor. According to research, nearly all cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos, which has been proven by numerous studies.
What is the most common cause of mesothelioma?
The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Several people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos while working in jobs that required them to handle asbestos-containing products, or they were exposed while serving in the military.
Until the 20th century, mesothelioma was virtually unknown. There was a rise in the incidence rates of mesothelioma as asbestos use in industries increased.
Asbestos: How Does it Cause Mesothelioma?
When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they become trapped in the mesothelial tissues, causing inflammation, scarring, and cell damage that lead to mesothelioma.
There is a dose-response relationship between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma, which means your chances of getting this cancer increase with every exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos fibers can cause different types of mesothelioma when they travel through the body. As an example, pleural mesothelioma can develop as a result of fibers getting stuck in the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. As a result of fibers getting deposited in the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity, peritoneal mesothelioma may arise.
Asbestos can also travel through the bloodstream into the heart or testes in rarer cases, causing pericardial mesothelioma or testicular mesothelioma.
Uncontrolled cell growth and asbestos
In most cases, mesothelioma develops as a result of cell and DNA damage caused by asbestos fibers.
Each and every part of the human body is made up of cells, which are small biological structures.
The DNA in our cells makes up our genes and is passed down from our parents. Asbestos fibers contain a code that tells our cells what to do and how to function properly, and this code can be damaged by asbestos fibers.
Asbestos fibers can be quite difficult to remove from the body once they have been inhaled.
The fibers become lodged in the tissues and accumulate over a period of time due to repeated exposure to them.
Asbestos, after many years of exposure, causes inflammation and scarring on the skin, causing DNA damage and transforming normal cells into cancerous ones. In turn, this results in uncontrolled cell growth, abnormal cell accumulation, and the development of mesothelioma tumors as a result.
The average time it takes for asbestos fibers to transform normal mesothelial cells into cancerous mesothelial cells is between 20 and 60 years.
There is a period of time between the time of exposure and the onset of a disease that is known as the latency period. It takes decades for asbestos fibers to cause damage that ultimately leads to mesothelioma. But once mesothelial cells begin to turn cancerous, they are able to quickly become mesothelioma tumors that grow and spread within months or a few years.
Mesothelioma is cancer arising from cells of the mesothelium that are responsible for covering the lungs, abdomen, and heart with protective membranes known as the mesothelium.
Causes and Risk Factors of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma risk factors increase the chances of developing the disease. For example, working in the construction industry increases the risk of mesothelioma, but does not cause the disease. The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos.
Different sources of asbestos exposure are involved in most mesothelioma risk factors. It has not yet been proven that other risk factors, such as genes that you inherit or exposure to the simian virus 40, known as SV40, can cause mesothelioma.
According to the World Health Organization, 125 million people worldwide are at risk from asbestos exposure at work. It is estimated that there are about 1.3 million workers in construction and general industry who are still at risk of asbestos exposure in the U.S.
MOST IMPORTANT RISK FACTORS FOR MESOTHELIOMA
There is an environmental asbestos exposure problem
Asbestos exposure in the workplace
DIY automotive and home renovations
Asbestos exposure in the military
When you live with someone who has worked with asbestos for a long period of time
As well as genetic factors, radiation exposure, and exposure to zeolite minerals, there are possible risk factors that have not yet been proven to be the cause of mesothelioma.
Additionally, it has been found that polio vaccines between 1955 and 1963 were contaminated with simian virus 40 (SV40).
Due to the fact that smoking and asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer, it is not surprising that smoking is mistaken as a risk factor for mesothelioma because it is combined with the development of lung cancer.
The risk of developing mesothelioma is not increased by smoking alone or in combination with asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Exposure in the Workplace
It’s mainly in the workplace that asbestos exposure happens, but it can also happen in the natural environment and through asbestos products at home, but those types of exposures are less likely to cause mesothelioma.
There are many products that use asbestos. These include drywall, insulation, pipes, glues, adhesives, ceiling tiles, cement, and shingles.
People who work with asbestos-containing products or raw minerals on a daily basis are at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses.
Asbestos workers are exposed to asbestos on the job when manufacturing and using asbestos products.
According to research, approximately 8% to 13% of asbestos workers develop mesothelioma.
MESOTHELIOMA CANCER IN HIGH-RISK OCCUPATIONS
Workers at chemical plants
Those who work on boilers
Workers in the construction industry
The insulators
Mechanics of automobiles
Workers in shipyards
Those who work in power plants
Workers in the industrial sector
There is a possibility that construction tradesmen and firefighters may be exposed to asbestos when working in old homes and structures built with contaminated materials.
These exposures may occur during renovations, demolition, and disaster response.
There is also a higher incidence of mesothelioma rates among veterans because the U.S. military used asbestos in almost every branch of the service.
In fact, the sailors were most likely to be exposed to asbestos, as asbestos was used to protect ships and shipyards from fires.
Getting exposed to asbestos secondhand
In the asbestos industry, workers’ families also were at risk. Asbestos fibers were often found in workers’ hair, clothing, shoes, and tools, which exposed family members to the toxic substance and raised their risk of mesothelioma.
People who work with asbestos-contaminated talc products, such as barbers and ceramics workers, also unknowingly brought asbestos fibers home, causing mesothelioma among their family members.
There is a risk of exposure to asbestos in the environment
Environmental exposure is most dangerous near former asbestos mines due to its natural mineral origin. People living near large asbestos deposits in hilly or mountainous regions can also be impacted.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana, caused a public health emergency in June 2009.
Asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, have affected thousands of residents.
Mesothelioma prevention
You can prevent mesothelioma by following workplace safety regulations. Protect yourself by learning more about how asbestos might be exposed at work and at home.
Asbestos workers should follow safety procedures and decontamination protocols to protect themselves and family members.
When renovating an old house, it is important to be aware of materials that may contain asbestos. Ensure all materials containing asbestos are tested before starting renovations and hire a professional asbestos abatement company to remove asbestos-containing materials.
In the case that you or a loved one has a history of asbestos exposure, especially in the workplace, it would be advisable to act proactive and contact your doctor before symptoms appear. Early detection offers the best chance for effective mesothelioma treatment.
Mesothelioma Causes: Common Questions
Asbestos is the only cause of mesothelioma?
Studies have shown that radiation treatment for other cancers or certain genetic markers may increase mesothelioma risk, but asbestos remains the only primary cause. About 80% of mesothelioma cases result from asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma: who is at risk?
Mesothelioma is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos at work. Construction, firefighters, industrial, power plant, and shipyard workers are most at risk.
There is a risk of secondary asbestos exposure and mesothelioma in the families of blue-collar workers due to the fact that workers often take fibers home with them on their skin, hair, clothes, and toolkits.
There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos because of the size and shape of asbestos fibers. The risk of developing mesothelioma increases when there is an increase in exposure to asbestos. Small amounts of asbestos on clothes and skin are sufficient to cause mesothelioma through secondary exposure.
Mesothelioma: What do I do?
The first thing you should do if you have respiratory symptoms or other signs of mesothelioma along with a history of asbestos exposure is to speak with your doctor about getting screened for mesothelioma.
If you have a history of asbestos exposure, your doctor will order CT imaging scans and other tests to determine if you are developing mesothelioma based on your history of asbestos exposure.