Risk Factors for Mesothelioma

Not all Cancers have the same risk factors. Some risk factors can be altered, like smoking. Family history, genetics, or age are examples of risk factors that cannot be changed. The number one risk factor for Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Pleural mesothelioma is mesothelioma of the lungs and it is most commonly linked to high levels of asbestos exposure most commonly in the workplace. Asbestos is a group of minerals that form bundles of extremely small fibers. One would need a microscope to see them. These fibers are found all over the world. Asbestos fibers are inhaled in the air and they find their way into the lining of the lungs. These fibers attach themselves to there and begin to wreak havoc on the cells of the lung lining. This is what ultimately causes mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is another very common type of mesothelioma. It is formed in the abdomen when the fibers are coughed up and then swallowed. People most at risk for mesothelioma are those that have faced long-term exposure to it in the workplace. Factory workers, insulation manufacturers, ship builders, plumbers, construction workers, and miners make up the majority of mesothelioma cases in the world.

Radiation is another risk factor associated with mesothelioma. Although it isn’t as common as mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, it has been linked to patients that received large doses of radiation to the chest or abdomen as a treatment for other forms of cancer.

Zeolites are yet another cause of mesothelioma. They are minerals that are chemically related to asbestos and are most commonly found in Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.