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Mesothelioma Causes
Table Of Contents
Mesothelioma develops when asbestos fibers are inhaled, leading to inflammation, scarring and genetic damage. Any amount of asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. Understanding the causes of mesothelioma is essential for preventing cancer and promoting early detection.
Written by Karen Selby, RN | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jacques Fontaine | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 26, 2024
Written by Karen Selby, RN | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jacques Fontaine | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 26, 2024
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma. When you inhale or ingest asbestos dust, it can settle into different organs and cause inflammation and irritation that may eventually lead to mesothelioma.
Most people who develop mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos at work or during military service. Asbestos fibers were widely used in construction materials, automotive parts and machinery for their heat-resistant properties, but can break down and create toxic dust. Some people also develop mesothelioma because of secondhand contact when workers inadvertently brought asbestos home on clothing or gear, exposing their families.
Asbestos-contaminated talc can also cause mesothelioma. Potential mesothelioma risk factors such as family history, genetics and lifestyle can increase the likelihood someone exposed to asbestos may develop cancer
Key Facts About Mesothelioma Causes
- Out of all people with heavy, prolonged exposure to asbestos, 8% to 13% develop mesothelioma.
- Asbestos workers who experienced years of exposure have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma.
- Because there is no safe amount of asbestos exposure, limited exposure can also cause mesothelioma.
- Inhaled asbestos fibers can lodge in the membrane (mesothelium) that lines a number of cavities within the body, which can eventually cause tumors to develop.
How Does Mesothelioma Develop?
Mesothelioma develops when microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested and get trapped in the mesothelium, a thin layer of tissue that lines the lungs, abdomen, heart or testes. The fibers pierce this lining, causing inflammation and damage to the mesothelial cells.
Over time, chronic inflammation and the physical properties of asbestos fibers can damage the DNA of your cells. Ultimately this can cause the formation of mesothelioma tumors.
Asbestos damages mesothelial cells and mutates them into cancerous mesothelioma cells.
Asbestos fibers that embed in the outer lining of the lungs can cause pleural mesothelioma. When the fibers get stuck in the abdominal cavity, they may cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
Fibers may also embed in the pericardium surrounding the heart or the membrane that covers the testes. However, pericardial and testicular mesothelioma are both very rare.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Patients inhale asbestos, which causes chronic inflammation that leads to genetic changes in a cell that gets changed in its DNA into a cancer cell. There’s also talc, which has been associated with the development of mesothelioma.
Common Mesothelioma Risk Factors
Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor for a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. Occupational asbestos exposure ranks as the No. 1 risk factor for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis and pleural plaques. But there are other factors that can further increase your chance of developing the disease.
Mesothelioma Risk Factors
- Age, as it can take 20-60 years for mesothelioma to develop
- Asbestos exposure
- Contaminated talc exposure
- High-risk jobs
- Family history of mesothelioma
- Living with someone who worked with asbestos
- Residing near asbestos factories or deposits
- Your overall health
The duration and intensity of asbestos exposure can affect a person’s risk of developing mesothelioma. This is called a dose-response relationship. Any amount of asbestos exposure can potentially lead to mesothelioma, however.
How Can You Be Exposed to Asbestos?
People can be exposed to asbestos in the workplace, in their homes and in the environment. While many people know if they’ve been exposed to asbestos, others may not be aware of their exposure.
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There are several types of asbestos exposure: Occupational, military, secondary and environmental., Occupational exposure is the most common way people are exposed to asbestos.
Occupational Exposure
Occupational asbestos exposure poses the highest risk for developing asbestos-related diseases, particularly for miners and people who manufactured asbestos products. Construction workers and firefighters today encounter legacy asbestos when working in older buildings, especially during renovation, demolition or disaster response.
Thousands of commercial, industrial and domestic products, such as drywall, insulation, pipes and tiles, contained asbestos. Chrysotile asbestos was the most widely used in manufacturing, which is why it’s strongly associated with a risk of developing mesothelioma.
Historically, men were more likely to have jobs with a greater risk of contact with asbestos. This has traditionally led to higher mesothelioma incidence rates in men than women. Though as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently reported, mesothelioma cases have significantly increased for women.
Military Exposure
Veterans also experience higher rates of mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure. Every branch of the military used asbestos extensively on bases and in vehicles, ships and planes.
Those who served in the Navy faced the highest risk of exposure. Asbestos helped reduce fires on ships and was used in protective gear such as respirators and heat-resistant gloves for operating gun turrets.
Survivor Story
Survivor Story
John Conway
Pleural mesothelioma
Navy Veteran and pleural mesothelioma survivor
John Conway worked as a Navy boiler technician when ships heavily used asbestos. He then worked for the Merchant Marines for 24 years. “I was proud to serve. It was fun, too. It took me around the world three times,” he told us. “When I was stripping asbestos insulation from below-deck steam pipes it looked like it was snowing down there. I never thought about any long-range danger.
Secondhand Exposure to Asbestos
Secondary exposure happens when someone carries asbestos fibers on their skin, hair, clothing, footwear or tools. Those fibers could then spread into the air, putting those around them at risk of exposure. People in occupations with high contact and proximity to asbestos were most at risk of bringing home fibers on their bodies or gear.
My mesothelioma was caused by my father’s work clothes. He had been a lagger and worked with asbestos all through my childhood. He died of mesothelioma in 1989.
Lyn Johnson, mesothelioma survivor
The formerly widespread use of asbestos in all sorts of products inadvertently put many people at risk for primary and secondary exposure. For example, barbers and ceramics workers used talc contaminated with asbestos. Bringing these fibers home caused cancer in many of their family members.
Environmental Exposure
Living near large asbestos deposits in hilly or mountainous regions puts residents at risk of environmental exposure. Minimal amounts of microscopic fibers can linger in the air in these regions. This is most dangerous near former asbestos mines and manufacturing plants.
In June 2009, the United States Environmental Protection Agency declared a public health emergency in Libby, Montana. The hazard arose from an asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mine in the town. Thousands of Libby residents have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.
The risk of disease associated with living near asbestos mines or facilities is lower compared to occupational asbestos exposure. Research suggests encountering asbestos this way may account for 3% of all mesothelioma cases and about 19% of cases in women.
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Connect NowHow Can I Reduce My Risk of Mesothelioma?
Reducing your risk of mesothelioma primarily involves minimizing exposure to asbestos, the leading cause of this cancer. Because occupational asbestos exposure is the primary cause of this cancer, the best way to prevent mesothelioma is to follow workplace safety regulations.
Talk to your employer about asbestos risks and the policies in place to mitigate those risks. Employers should be responsible for providing safe workplaces and preventing asbestos exposure, but there are steps you can take to help minimize your risk both in the workplace and in your personal life.
Tips to Reduce Asbestos Exposure
- Avoid wearing clothing, footwear and other work gear at home that could harbor asbestos fibers.
- Hire a reputable professional asbestos abatement company to test and remove asbestos from your home.
- Purchase talc-free cosmetics and personal care items.
- Take care when purchasing vintage, antique or upcycled products and materials that historically contained asbestos.
- Talk to your doctor about your work history and regularly schedule appropriate screenings for early detection.
If you or a loved one has a history of asbestos exposure, talk to your doctor about cancer screenings. Early detection offers the best opportunity for effective mesothelioma treatment.
Common Questions About Mesothelioma Causes
- What type of asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma?
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All types of asbestos exposure, including occupational, secondary and environmental, can cause mesothelioma. Every type of asbestos fiber, including chrysotile asbestos, can cause this cancer.
- Who is most likely to get mesothelioma?
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Men are more likely than women to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis. About 75% of people with mesothelioma are 65 years of age and older. This cancer is rare in people under age 45.
- How long does it take for mesothelioma to develop?
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Asbestos fibers turn healthy cells into cancer cells decades after exposure. The fibers initiate an inflammatory process that slowly causes genetic damage and eventually cancer 20 to 60 years later. Once tumors form, mesothelioma can quickly progress to stage 3 or 4 before causing symptoms.
- Does smoking cause mesothelioma?
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No, smoking does not cause mesothelioma. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. While smoking and tobacco use are linked to lung cancer and other malignancies, they are not associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma.
Answered By: Anna Nowak, internationally renowned asbestos researcher and mesothelioma advocate.
- Are there screenings available for mesothelioma?
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If you have a history of asbestos exposure, speak to your doctor about screenings for mesothelioma as soon as possible. If you develop respiratory, abdominal or other mesothelioma symptoms, see your doctor right away. Initial signs and symptoms of mesothelioma can include shortness of breath, chest pain or abdominal distress. Patient Advocates can help connect you with a specialist for a diagnosis, second opinion and specialized treatment.
Summary
The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral. When asbestos breaks down, it releases dust containing microscopic fibers. If inhaled or swallowed, the fibers can lodge in the lungs or stomach, causing damage over time. Decades later, this can lead to mesothelioma.
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