Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

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

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

Age

The likelihood of a person developing mesothelioma varies based on a variety of variables. This includes the age at which their initial exposure to asbestos as well as the type of asbestos and the time of exposure. The symptoms of mesothelioma generally begin in the lungs and then spread to other parts. So, people who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are the most likely to develop this disease. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the abdomen's lining the peritoneum, are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more severe the mesothelioma becomes, the more old the person is when diagnosed. This is due to the 20-60 year latency time between exposure to asbestos and the first symptom of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a natural mineral with fibrous bundles that form thin sheets or clump together to form an impermeable substance. From the 1930s until the 1980s its durability and flexibility made asbestos a popular material. In this period, millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos claim through secondary or occupational exposure. Occupational exposure occurs when workers are exposed to asbestos in their work. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are brought home on clothing, hair or skin and unknowingly inhaled by family members.

Inhaling asbestos fibers irritate the lining of the lungs and other organs, including the heart. In time this irritation can lead to inflammation, scarring, and mutation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.

Mesothelioma or lung cancer is a form of cancer that affects the pleura. It can also affect other areas of the body, like 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 may also be at risk.

Additionally, people who carry the BAP1 gene mutation are more likely of developing mesothelioma compared to those who are not affected by this condition. They are typically diagnosed between the ages of 50 and 70.

Gender

Mesothelioma is more common in men than in women. This is due to the fact that males worked in areas that were more vulnerable to asbestos exposure. Men may have also carried home the asbestos fibers on their clothes from work places. Asbestos is typically found in factories and mines, with those that made asbestos products such as insulation, pipes tiles, cement and tiles most at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has been found in workers who constructed or repaired automotive and railroad products, and also those who constructed ships and made gas masks. Chrysotile exposure, which is the most well-known type of asbestos is usually related to mesothelioma.

The risk of developing mesothelioma is increased with the length and intensity of exposure to asbestos. Most mesothelioma cases occur in people who have been exposed to asbestos for 30 or more years. The time of a person's latency can be different based on their gender and form of asbestos exposure.

While it isn't known what exactly causes this, women appear to have a longer period of latency for mesothelioma compared to men. One reason could be that a lot of the women who developed mesothelioma were domestic workers and could have come into contact with asbestos through washing the clothes of their husbands, fathers and brothers.

When mesothelioma was more widespread, asbestos was used in a myriad of commercial and residential building materials. The fibers were found in insulation, drywall, paint, pipe coating and cement. A lot of these products were used in workplaces and homes in which asbestos was often disturbed by construction or renovations.

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

Asbestos is a nebulous substance, and scientists are continuing to study its health effects, specifically mesothelioma. Studies are looking at 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 investigating how different factors can affect mesothelioma incidence, such as gender and level of exposure to asbestos.

Work History

A person is more likely to develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure if they worked in an industry where asbestos was extensively used. Asbestos was widely used in building and construction particularly from the 1920s until the 1980s. Many jobs were susceptible to exposure, such as mining, manufacturing power generation, shipbuilding and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous minerals. It is durable and heat resistant, which made it useful in a variety of products. The fibers of asbestos are used in insulation, brake pads and roofing, among other things. When asbestos is cut or disturbed, it releases tiny particles that can be breathed in or swallowed.

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

People who have a family history of mesothelioma also have higher risks of mesothelioma, but it isn't clear the reason. A mutation in a gene called BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma, however it's a rare.

A person is also at risk for mesothelioma if they were in a relationship with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers home on their clothes hair, skin and even their hair. This is referred to as secondary exposure. Workers in industries that have high exposure to asbestos are at risk of bringing home fibers onto their clothing and shoes. These fibers can be inhaled by family members or ingested at home.

Asbestosis, which is a lung condition to mesothelioma, often occurs as a result of breathing in asbestos lawsuit fibers. Asbestosis typically develops in the lungs. It can cause fluid accumulation around the rib cage and cause breathing difficulties and coughing, chest pain and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the most mesothelioma-related deaths in the world, mostly because asbestos was extensively used here throughout the years in construction, manufacturing and mining. A doctor first discovered the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which helped drive England to adopt laws regulating asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced companies to install ventilation and other safety equipment.

Smoking

Mesothelioma, as with 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 heart (pericardium), they can cause abnormal growths known as tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However there are many factors that could increase your chances of getting the 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 result in mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos in the workplace have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma than those who were not exposed. The type of asbestos exposure a person has is also crucial. Different types of asbestos have a different impact on the lungs as well as a individual's health. For example, chrysotile asbestos is more prone to mesothelioma than amphiboles like amosite or crocidolite.

A person's mesothelioma-related family history is also a factor in his or her mesothelioma risk. Mesothelioma is not common in younger and children however, it can occur in young adults if they were an adult who worked with asbestos claim. People who are mesothelioma-related illness or with mesothelioma are at an increased risk of developing the disease due to the fact that they inhale asbestos fibers that are on clothing, skin and hair.

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

The gender, age and race of a person can also affect their mesothelioma. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women, as are those with an ancestor with the disease. This is because women are less likely to work in asbestos-related industries and men are more likely than other people to be exposed to asbestos lawyer at work.