Mesothelioma Risk Factors
Asbestos exposure is undoubtedly the most significant risk factor for getting mesothelioma. Exposure can occur while working on a home renovation project or living near an asbestos-contaminated site.
Most asbestos exposure incidences, however, occurred because of a person’s occupation or work site. In fact, occupational asbestos exposure is a primary risk factor for mesothelioma cancer.
Secondary exposure is also a risk factor for the rare cancer, but it, too, is also connected with occupational exposure. There are documented cases of a retired worker coming down with mesothelioma because of asbestos fibers he inhaled at work – and of his wife coming down with the same cancer because she handled and washed his fiber-filled clothes for more than 20 years.
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Occupational Risk Factors
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos may be at risk for developing mesothelioma. This is especially true for those who experienced heavy, moderately short-term exposure, as this kind of exposure is known to have a higher chance of causing mesothelioma. A number of occupations, especially industrial or construction-related, have a history of exposing workers to varying levels of asbestos.
Some of the most prevalent occurrences of asbestos exposure happened within the following occupations:
Occupations Associated with Asbestos Exposure
Former military veterans, especially Navy veterans, faced the No. 1 mesothelioma risk factor during enlistment as well. Asbestos was used by every military division, and Navy vets encountered the highest risk of asbestos exposure. Studies conducted by the United States Maritime Commission found that long after vessels had been at sea, it was not unusual to find flaking and cracking asbestos-containing materials due to the vibration and motion of the vessel at sea.
Browse a full list of occupations with a history of asbestos exposure
Secondary Exposure as a Risk Factor
Many people have developed mesothelioma cancer as a result of secondary asbestos exposure. This form of exposure most often affects those who live with family members or friends who work with asbestos. Secondary exposure occurs when someone inhales or ingests asbestos fibers brought home on the clothes, skin and hair of another person.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Report to Congress on a Workers' Home Contamination Study concluded that ". . . families of asbestos-exposed workers have been at increased risk of pleural, pericardial, or peritoneal mesothelioma, lung cancer, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, and nonmalignant pleural and parenchymal abnormalities as well as asbestosis."
Environmental Risk Factors
Various locations throughout the country have had higher-than-normal incidence rates for mesothelioma cancer. Some of these locations have involved small areas around asbestos mines or asbestos processing plants, while some involved entire towns. Two of the most recognized cities for asbestos exposure problems include Libby, Montana, and El Dorado Hills, California.
Libby was home to a vermiculite mine that contained naturally occurring asbestos. The mine, controlled by W.R. Grace & Company, operated from 1923 to 1990 and is responsible for several hundred asbestos-related deaths. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared a public health emergency for the town in June 2009.
El Dorado Hills has naturally occurring asbestos levels that are “of concern” according to the EPA’s 450-plus air samples that were gathered in 2004. The EPA’s informational Web page points out the prevalence of asbestos in El Dorado Hills.
Smoking is Not a Mesothelioma Risk Factor
Studies have shown that smoking does not cause mesothelioma cancer. Instead, studies have demonstrated that those who smoke and have been exposed to asbestos are much more likely to develop lung cancer. Some statistics reveal that those who smoke are as much as 90 percent more likely to develop lung cancer if they have also been exposed to asbestos.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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