Mesothelioma - Chances of Getting Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with exposure to asbestos. It's unclear whether the risk decreases after exposure ceases.

A mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers get stuck in the lung's lining (pleura) or abdomen (peritoneum). There are many different kinds of mesothelioma. They include:

Age

A person's chances of getting mesothelioma are based on a variety of factors. This includes the age at which the first exposure to asbestos and the type of asbestos used and the duration of the exposure. The signs of mesothelioma typically begin in the lungs and later spread to other parts of the body. So, people who have been exposed to asbestos in the lungs are most likely to develop this disease. People who have been exposed to asbestos in the lining of the abdomen and peritoneum are less likely to develop mesothelioma.

The more serious mesothelioma is, the older the patient is at the time of diagnosis. 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 that form thin sheets or clump together to create an impermeable substance. Between the 1930s to 1980s its flexibility and strength made asbestos a very popular material. In this period millions of Americans were exposed to asbestos through occupational or secondary exposure. Workplace exposure occurs when employees 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.

When inhaled, asbestos fibers can cause irritation to the lung's lining and other organs such as the heart. This irritation can lead to inflammation, scarring and the conversion of healthy cells into cancerous cells over the course of time.

Mesothelioma is mostly a cancer of the pleura which is the tissue that surrounds the lung. It can also affect other areas of the body, such as the stomach and the heart.

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

Additionally, people who carry the BAP1 gene mutation are more likely of developing mesothelioma compared to those without this condition. 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 worked in industries more susceptible to asbestos settlement exposure. Men may have also carried home the asbestos fibers on their clothing from work places. Asbestos is usually found in mines and factories which produce asbestos settlement products such as pipes, insulation, tiles and cement most at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has been identified in those who built or repaired automotive and railroad products, and who built ships and manufactured gas masks. Exposure to chrysotile, the most popular type of asbestos is usually associated with 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 more than 30 years. A person's latency period may also vary depending on their gender as well as the 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 is that many of the women who developed mesothelioma were domestic workers and may have come into contact with asbestos while washing the work clothes of their husbands, fathers and brothers.

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

Although mesothelioma wasn't being used as an industrial substance, asbestos litigation was found in many types of structures, including schools, churches, hospitals and offices. Many of these buildings were constructed prior to the 1980s in which Asbestos (Articlescad.com) was banned.

Asbestos is a nebulous substance, so researchers are still studying its health effects, specifically mesothelioma. Research is looking into how asbestos affects both the lungs as well as the gastrointestinal tract, which is the area where mesothelioma typically affects patients. They are also looking into the impact of different factors on mesothelioma incidence, 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 utilized for a long time. Asbestos was extensively used in building and construction in the 1920s to the 1980s. Many jobs were susceptible to exposure, including manufacturing, mining, power generation, shipbuilding, and asbestos removal.

Asbestos is an naturally occurring fibrous mineral. It is extremely durable and heat-resistant, which has made it useful in many different products. The fibers of asbestos are used in brake pads, insulation, and roofing, among others. When asbestos is cut or smashed and released, it releases tiny particles that can be inhaled or ingested.

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

People with a family history of mesothelioma also have higher risks of mesothelioma, but it isn't clear the reason. A mutation in the gene known as BAP1 has been linked to mesothelioma but it is rare.

A person could be at risk of mesothelioma in the event that they lived with someone who worked with asbestos and then brought the asbestos fibers to their clothing or hair, skin or even the 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 shoes and clothing. These fibers can be inhaled by family members or ingested at home.

Asbestosis is a lung condition to mesothelioma is often the result of breathing in asbestos fibers. Asbestosis usually develops in the lungs and can cause fluid buildup around the rib cage and cause breathing difficulties and coughing, chest pain and an ribcage lump.

Australia has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, mostly because asbestos was widely used in Australia throughout the years in construction manufacturing, mining and manufacturing. A doctor first identified the link between asbestos and mesothelioma in 1930, which prompted England to pass laws that regulated asbestos in the 1930s. These regulations forced businesses to install ventilation equipment as well as other safety equipment.

Smoking

Mesothelioma is one of the most common cancers, is caused by cells that are unable to receive genetic information. They multiply unchecked. When these cells are located in the lung (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium), they can cause abnormal growths, referred to as tumors. There is no cure for mesothelioma. However there are a variety of factors that increase the risk of developing the disease.

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

A person's mesothelioma history in the family can also increase his or her mesothelioma risk. Mesothelioma is not common in younger and children, but it can develop in young adults if they were around an adult who worked with asbestos. People who are mesothelioma patient or a person who is mesothelioma-positive have an increased chance of developing the disease because they are more likely to inhale asbestos fibers that are on hair, skin, and clothing.

The kind of work the person was employed at can affect the risk of developing mesothelioma. Workers 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 lawyer. Mesothelioma incidences are higher for people who work in certain fields, like construction or manufacturing.

The race, gender, and age could also play a role in the mesothelioma-related experience. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females and also those who have an ancestral history of the disease. 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.