What Causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a
cancer that
occurs in the mesothelium, a thin membrane encompassing the body’s
internal organs and cavities. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos
exposure. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled through the mouth and nose
may eventually become embedded in the lining of the lungs, causing
harmful inflammation of the
pleura and resulting in
mesothelioma or
asbestosis (scar tissue formation in the lungs). It has also been found
that swallowing asbestos fibers could contribute to a form of the
malignancy originating in the abdomen known as peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma generally results from occupational asbestos exposure, but
there are instances of environmental exposure that can also cause the
disease. Often times a family member can be affected indirectly by
secondhand exposure from an asbestos worker’s soiled work clothes.
Asbestos was an effective insulation material. It was used liberally
in commercial and industrial products in the United States until being
regulated in a joint effort between the Consumer Product Safety
Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency in 1989. Occupational
exposure was common among workers who encountered these products in
many industries including shipbuilding, power plants, and other
industrial settings.
Asbestos insulation workers appear to have the highest incidence rate of
asbestos-related disease. One study reports that almost six percent of
asbestos workers fall victim to mesothelioma or experience respiratory
symptoms. Asbestos insulation workers are over 300 times more likely to
be diagnosed with mesothelioma than those with no exposure history.
How does exposure to asbestos cause mesothelioma?
Asbestos fibers are microscopic, though they are also quite durable. For
this reason, asbestos was used in a number of different industrial
compounds to enhance strength and resistance to temperature extremes-
two properties at which the mineral is highly adept. Asbestos exposure
most often occurred among individuals who worked extensively with
asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. Friable asbestos (meaning
loose or airborne fibers) is easily inhaled- often without the exposed
person realizing.
When inhaled, asbestos lodges easily in the outer lung tissue and within the mesothelium. The
mesothelium is
a thin membrane of cells which produces a lubricating fluid on the
surface of the organs. This lubricant allows the lung and other internal
structures to expand, contract, and move freely without friction in the
body cavity. There is a great deal of
latency associated with mesothelioma between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms.
