What Are The Risk Factors For Malignant Mesothelioma?

Exposing skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bladder, kidney, and several other organs. Individuals exposed to asbestos should be encouraged to avoid tobacco exposure because together the risk for lung cancer is significantly higher than from smoking without a history of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos

People who may be at risk for occupational asbestos exposure include some miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, ship builders, gas mask manufacturers, and construction workers, particularly those involved with installing insulation. Several studies have shown that family members of people exposed to asbestos at work have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, because asbestos fibers are carried home on the clothes of the workers.

Still, up to 8 million Americans may already have been exposed to asbestos. When they are being removed, exposure to asbestos particles suspended in air and building materials is much less hazardous except.

The risk of developing a mesothelioma is related to how much asbestos a person was exposed to and how long this exposure lasted. The time between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 50 years.

Since asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, it can also be found in dust and rocks in certain parts of the United States as well as the world.

The risk of developing a mesothelioma is related to how much asbestos a person was exposed to and how long this exposure lasted.

Individuals exposed to asbestos should be encouraged to avoid tobacco exposure because together the risk for lung cancer is significantly higher than from smoking without a history of asbestos exposure. The main risk factor for developing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Several studies have shown that family members of people exposed to asbestos at work have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, because asbestos fibers are carried home on the clothes of the workers.



Serpentine fibers are pliable and curly. Chrysotile is the only type of serpentine fiber and it is the most widely used form of asbestos.

Even the more commonly used chrysotile fibers are associated with malignant (cancerous) mesotheliomas and should be considered dangerous.

The risk of lung cancer among people exposed to asbestos is increased by 7 times, compared with the general population. Cancers of the larynx, pancreas, kidney, esophagus, and colon may also come from asbestos exposure, but the increased risk is small.

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most are cleared in the nose, throat, trachea (windpipe), or bronchi (large breathing tubes of the lungs). These fibers may then directly injure mesothelial cells of the pleura, and eventually cause mesothelioma.

The main risk factor for developing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. As the link between asbestos and mesothelioma has become well known, the use of this material has almost stopped. Experts have linked this drop in asbestos use to the fact that the rate of development of mesothelioma is no longer increasing.

Amphiboles are thin, rod-like fibers. There are 5 main types-- crocidolite, amosite, actinolyte, anthrophylite, and tremolite. Amphiboles (particularly crocidolite) are considered to be the most carcinogenic (cancer-causing).

Cancers of the larynx, pancreas, kidney, colon, and esophagus may also come from asbestos exposure, but the increased risk is small.

There are 2 main forms of asbestos-- serpentine and amphiboles.

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