Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The chance of developing mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. However, it's not fully known if the risk decreases after exposure ends.

A mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers get stuck in the lining of the lungs (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are a variety of types of mesothelioma. There are many types of mesothelioma.

Age

The probability of developing mesothelioma varies based on a variety of factors. This includes the age of the person's first exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos used and the length of exposure. Mesothelioma symptoms typically begin in the lungs before spreading to other body parts. 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 abdomen's lining and peritoneum are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more severe the mesothelioma, the more advanced the person who is diagnosed. This is due to the 20-60 year period between exposure to asbestos and the first symptoms of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a natural mineral with fibrous bundles that can form thin sheets or clump together into an impermeable material. Between the 1930s to 1980s its durability and flexibility made asbestos a very popular material. In this period, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through occupational or secondary exposure. The term occupational exposure refers to the time when workers are exposed to asbestos in their workplace. Secondary exposure is when asbestos fibers are brought home on hair, clothing or skin and unknowingly inhaled by family members.

When inhaled, asbestos fibers irritate the lining of the lungs and other organs such as the heart. This irritation can cause scarring, inflammation and the transformation of healthy cells to cancerous cells over the course of time.

Mesothelioma is mostly a cancer of the pleura which is the tissue that surrounds the lungs. It can also affect other parts of the body, like the heart and stomach.

People with a blue-collar or military background are more likely to be exposed to asbestos as they work in certain industries or serve in the military. However those who have been exposed to asbestos at home or from other sources could also be at risk.

Furthermore, those who have the BAP1 gene mutation have a greater chance of developing mesothelioma than those without this condition. They are usually diagnosed between ages 50 and 70.

Gender

Mesothelioma is more prevalent in males than females. This is probably due to the fact that men were employed in industries that were more prone to asbestos exposure. They may also have carried home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from work places. Asbestos is usually found in factories and mines which produce asbestos products such as pipes, insulation tiles, cement and tiles the most at risk of developing mesothelioma. But mesothelioma also has been found in workers who constructed or repaired automotive and railroad products, and also those who constructed ships and produced gas masks. Chrysotile exposure, the most well-known type of asbestos, is generally associated with mesothelioma.

The likelihood of developing mesothelioma increases with the duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos. 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 be different based on their gender and the kind of asbestos exposure.

It isn't clear the reason women have a longer latency for mesothelioma. One reason is that many of the women who developed mesothelioma were domestic workers and could have come into contact with asbestos from washing the work clothes of their fathers, husbands and brothers.

When mesothelioma was a more prevalent disease, asbestos was used in a wide variety of commercial and domestic building materials. The fibers were used in drywalls, pipe coatings paints, cements, and paints. Many of these materials were used in homes and workplaces, where the asbestos settlement was frequently disturbed during construction or renovations.

Although mesothelioma wasn't being employed as an industrial product, asbestos was found in many types of structures, including schools churches, hospitals, and offices. A majority of these buildings were constructed before the 1980s, when asbestos was banned.

Asbestos is a complicated substance, and researchers are continuing to study its health effects, especially mesothelioma. Studies are looking at how asbestos affects both the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which is the area where mesothelioma most commonly affects patients. They are also examining how different factors can affect mesothelioma rates, such as gender and exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is most likely to get mesothelioma from asbestos exposure when they worked in an industry where asbestos was extensively used. Asbestos was widely used in construction and building particularly from the 1920s through the 1980s. Many jobs were at risk of exposure including manufacturing, mining, power generation, shipbuilding and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is durable and heat-resistant, which has makes it suitable for a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used for brake pads, insulation, and roofing, among others. When asbestos is cut or smashed it releases tiny particles that can be breathed in or swallowed.

Mesothelioma typically takes between 20 and 60 years after exposure to develop, however it can happen much sooner than that. It can be found in the lungs, in the chest wall (peritoneal mesothelioma pleural), or the abdomen.

People who have mesothelioma-related family history also have higher risks of the disease, but it isn't clear why. Mesothelioma is a result of an inherited mutation in the gene BAP1, but it's rare.

A person could be at risk of developing mesothelioma if they grew up with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes or hair, skin or even the hair. This is referred to as secondary exposure. Workers in industries with high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers onto their shoes and clothing. These fibers can be inhaled by family members or consumed at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung disease to mesothelioma typically occurs as a result of breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestosis usually develops in the lungs and can lead to fluid buildup 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 extensively used here throughout the years in construction manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first identified the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which led England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations pushed businesses to install ventilation systems and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Mesothelioma is one of the most common cancers, is caused by cells that have received faulty genetic information. They multiply without being checked. When these cells are in the lung (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or heart (pericardium) and they are able to cause abnormal growths known as tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma, but there are several risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this disease.

Asbestos exposure is the most significant mesothelioma risk factor. The asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs irritate the lining of the lungs and chest wall, which can 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 as well as a person's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos is more prone to mesothelioma than amphiboles like crocidolite or amosite.

A person's family history of mesothelioma also contributes to the risk of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is uncommon in younger adults and children however it may develop in young adults if they had an adult who worked with asbestos. Individuals who are mesothelioma patient or a person who has mesothelioma have an increased risk of developing the disease because they are more likely to inhale asbestos fibers that are on clothing, skin and hair.

The nature of the work that 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 construction and manufacturing, also have a higher rate of mesothelioma than others.

The age, gender and race of a person may affect their mesothelioma. Men and those with a family history of mesothelioma are more likely to develop mesothelioma. This is because women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and males are more likely than other people to be exposed to asbestos in the workplace.