The mesothelioma latency period is the time between initial asbestos exposure and diagnosis. This period typically ranges from 20 to 60 years. Factors such as the level of asbestos exposure, age at first exposure, and individual health conditions can influence the latency period.
Written by: Dr. Kristopher Bunting | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Jeffrey Velotta | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: May 22, 2025
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Mesothelioma usually takes 20 to 60 years to develop. The latency period is the time from asbestos exposure to a mesothelioma diagnosis.
A 2022 study in the journal Cancers looks at latency in pleural mesothelioma. It says that higher or longer asbestos exposure speeds up disease.
Key Facts About Mesothelioma Latency
Many people aren’t diagnosed until symptoms become very serious and lingering. A nagging cough and trouble breathing are the most common symptoms of this rare cancer. This disease takes decades to develop. So, most people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in their 60s or 70s
Asbestos exposure is the main factor in the latency period for mesothelioma. This includes the length and level of exposure, as well as the type of asbestos. Certain types of asbestos fibers may have shorter latency periods.
Each of the 6 types of asbestos has distinct fibers and different uses.Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, has very thin fibers. It’s considered deadlier than other asbestos types. It also has a shorter mesothelioma latency period. A 2022 study published in Case Reports of Gastroenterology shows crocidolite is closely associated with peritoneal mesothelioma.
Another study compared the exposure of factory workers to that of miners. Asbestos product workers have a shorter latency period than those who worked in or lived near asbestos mines.
Genetic predisposition may also affect asbestos latency. Certain gene mutations may lead to shorter latency periods.
Total asbestos exposure may be the biggest factor in mesothelioma latency. Long-term asbestos exposure, or high levels for a short time, can shorten latency periods. A 2023 study in Respirology looked at the Australian Mesothelioma registry. It found a link between longer latency periods and low-level asbestos exposure.
Insulation and asbestos manufacturers had heavy exposure for a long time. They may have latency periods of less than 30 years. First responders, however, often have a brief, high-level exposure. Many first responders to 9/11 and Katrina developed mesothelioma. These paramedics, firefighters, and police officers were exposed for a short time.
Chuck Gast tells us all it took was 6 weeks of asbestos exposure for him to develop mesothelioma. Despite this very brief timeframe, both Chuck and his former wife, Melva, had mesothelioma 40 years later. Melva’s diagnosis was the result of secondary exposure to asbestos fibers Chuck brought home on his work clothes.
“For approximately 6 weeks, I worked in an industrial furnace factory,” Chuck shares. “The furnace insulation was asbestos. So I was directly involved with it, getting it all over me.”
Chuck Gast and his former wife both developed mesothelioma resulting from his exposure to asbestos furnace insulation. He may have been exposed as an elementary school teacher for 16 years, but it was a summer job in 1973 that greatly contributed to his cancer diagnosis.
About 1.3 million U.S. construction and general industry workers are exposed to asbestos. Renovations, maintenance and demolition can release fibers. Workers face the risk of asbestos exposure in more than 75 jobs. Jobs with long-term or high exposure likely shorten the latency period.
| Occupation | Average Mesothelioma Latency Period |
|---|---|
| Mining | 35 |
| Production | 31 |
| Shipyards | 37 |
| Construction | 33 |
| Maintenance | 33 |
In 1973, while working as a teacher, Chuck Gast took a summer job to make extra money. He would often handle asbestos insulation and bricks. He also hand-packed asbestos into a furnace.
“I was 27 years old and never thought something like this would come back to haunt me,” Chuck says. “That’s one job I should have never taken.”
Secondhand asbestos exposure is when asbestos fibers move from one person to another. Asbestos workers may bring fibers home on their clothes and gear. This poses a threat to family members, especially if they handle contaminated items. This type of asbestos exposure can be as dangerous as direct exposure. However, it’s linked to longer latency periods.
Melva, who was married to Chuck Gast, was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma 3 years before his diagnosis. “I brought the [asbestos] fibers home on my clothing. She would launder my clothes,” Chuck explains.
Melva developed symptoms a few years before Chuck noticed his. One of his doctors in Toledo said it’s very rare for people in the same home to both have mesothelioma.
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A patient’s cancer location, gender, age and genetics affect how long it takes for mesothelioma to develop. Many mesothelioma patients are older at diagnosis because of the long latency period.
People who are similar can have different latency periods. For example, Cheryl Pilkington and Tamron Little were both exposed to asbestos as kids. But they developed mesothelioma differently.
Cheryl tells us she was repeatedly exposed to asbestos at her father’s workshop. She was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma 60 years later. Tamron, on the other hand, was exposed to asbestos as a toddler. It caused her to develop peritoneal mesothelioma at a young age. They had similar exposures at similar ages. But, they developed different types of mesothelioma. And their latency periods were very different.
“I was just 21 years old when I was told I had peritoneal mesothelioma. Being diagnosed so young is a rarity,” Tamron shares. “I didn’t fit the description of the typical mesothelioma patient.
The site of your mesothelioma can affect your latency period. One study found a much shorter latency for peritoneal mesothelioma than for pleural.
This study found the average latency for pleural mesothelioma was 44 years. For peritoneal mesothelioma, it was under 30 years for women and 39 years for men. Some of the rarer forms of the disease develop even more quickly.
Latency Periods of Mesothelioma
The minimum latency period for mesothelioma, regardless of type, is 11 years. However, some diagnoses have occurred within 10 years of the known initial exposure.
There is some evidence that gender plays a role in determining mesothelioma latency. Some studies suggest women tend to have a longer mesothelioma latency than men. This may be attributable to higher rates of environmental exposure among women.
The mean mesothelioma latency period for men is 48 years. The mean mesothelioma latency period for women is 53 years.
Recent data shows mesothelioma rates have risen among women. This is despite lower exposure to asbestos at work. Asbestos-contaminated talc in some cosmetics may play a role. Women may have used these products more often than men.
Men with a history of working with asbestos tend to have shorter latency periods than women. This is especially true for construction, power and factory jobs. These careers exposed workers to high levels of asbestos for long periods.
Some research suggests that age at asbestos exposure may affect latency. But, this isn’t always the case. Very young children and older adults may be at higher risk. Children’s immune systems are still developing. And immune systems can decline with age. This may mean young children and older adults’ bodies are less able to clear asbestos.
Children’s lungs are still developing. Older adults may have a harder time repairing organ damage. This can make both groups more susceptible to damage from asbestos. Children, however, have a longer average mesothelioma life expectancy than adults.
The U.K.’s Committee on Carcinogenicity compared the risk for kids to that for adults. An exposed 5-year-old child is at much higher risk of mesothelioma than an exposed 30-year-old adult. The risk for the child was found to be five times that of the adult’s risk.
Some people are genetically more likely to develop cancer. A 2022 case report in Frontiers in Oncology says 12 genes are linked to mesothelioma.
A specific mutation to the BRCA-1 gene may raise the risk of mesothelioma. This gene suppresses tumor development. A mutation in the related BAP1 gene may shorten the latency period for mesothelioma.
Delayed onset of symptoms and late diagnosis are typical for mesothelioma. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until the cancer is in stage 3. The first symptoms are shortness of breath, chest pain and fatigue. They’re similar to other conditions. Initial misdiagnosis can delay the start of treatment.
Some people, however, can develop symptoms quickly and at a young age. Alyssa Hankus, for example, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma when she was only 15.
My doctors told me it takes at least 15 years to present symptoms, but I actually started showing symptoms around age 12.
Alyssa has been in remission for more than 15 years after very aggressive treatment. She doesn’t take life for granted.
“It’s all a part of that continued fight of making it and achieving all of the things that at 15 I was told I never would,” she tells us. “Those little day-to-day simple joys are what mean so much, because those were never promised to me.”
A 2021 case report details a 63-year-old European man. He was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma 8.5 years after being exposed to asbestos. Genetic testing found a mutation that raised his tumor risk.
A 2022 case report in Case Reports in Gastroenterology details the late diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. The patient was a 67-year-old man. He was hospitalized with general abdominal pains. He had no obvious history of asbestos exposure. However, a closer look found exposure from more than 20 years ago.
Smoking, in any amount, seems to shorten the latency period for mesothelioma.
Some research has found a relationship between the two. Asbestosis may lead to a faster onset of mesothelioma.
The most common symptoms of mesothelioma are a lingering dry cough and trouble breathing.
If you have a known history of asbestos exposure, talk to your doctor. Ask about screenings for asbestos-related diseases.
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Bunting, K. (2025, May 22). Mesothelioma Latency Period. Asbestos.com. Retrieved June 16, 2025, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/latency-period/
Bunting, Kristopher. "Mesothelioma Latency Period." Asbestos.com, 22 May 2025, https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/latency-period/.
Bunting, Kristopher. "Mesothelioma Latency Period." Asbestos.com. Last modified May 22, 2025. https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/latency-period/.
Dr. Jeffrey Velotta is an experienced thoracic surgeon and pleural mesothelioma specialist at Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center in California. Velotta also serves as an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
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