How Much Asbestos Can Cause Mesothelioma
Many people suffer from mesothelioma because of prolonged, severe exposure to asbestos. Symptoms don't usually appear until 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. The companies were aware of the dangers, but hid them from the workers and public.
Most often mesothelioma is a problem with the peritoneum, or lungs. It may also affect the testicles or heart.
Exposure to occupational hazards
Asbestos-related workers have the greatest risk for developing mesothelioma. Asbestos is a strong and fire-resistant material, which was frequently used in manufacturing, construction ships, ship building and other industries because of its strength and cost-effectiveness. These jobs often required handling, removing and installing asbestos-containing material on a daily base. These workers were also exposed to asbestos through secondhand exposure as asbestos-containing products were taken home on their clothes hair, or on tools. These fibers could have been inhaled by family members, who later developed mesothelioma.
The duration and intensity of exposure to asbestos are the most crucial factors in determining whether asbestos workers will develop mesothelioma. The risk of developing mesothelioma is increased even if a person was only exposed to low levels asbestos for a short time. The mesothelioma symptoms typically are not evident until decades after the initial exposure. The average latency period for pleural mesothelioma ranges from 30 to 60 years and for peritoneal mesothelioma it is between 20 and 40 years.
Plumbers, pipelayers and electricians are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. In the 1920s and into the 1960s, these jobs were at the forefront of asbestos production and usage. Asbestos was frequently used in electrical insulation, floor tiles, and vinyl siding. Asbestos was also used in clutches and brake shoes and other products for manufacturing and construction. Shipyards were another high-risk working environment for mesothelioma especially Navy yard veterans. The people who worked on and near these vessels frequently handled asbestos-based insulation, and also sanded, cut and sawed asbestos-containing material.
Asbestos has the unique ability to break up and release sharp, microscopic fibers into the air. The asbestos fibers are breathed in and bind to the mesothelial cells of the victim's membranes. Mesothelioma is triggered by the cells becoming irritated and inflamed. It can also be caused by infection. Mesothelioma is most often found in the lining of the lung (pleura) and stomach lining (peritoneum), heart lining (pericardium) and the lining of the testes (tunica vaginalis). People who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney in order to determine their eligibility for compensation. Many asbestos companies have set up trust funds to compensate those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
Secondhand Exposure
A lot of people develop mesothelioma as a result of secondary exposure to asbestos. In this kind of situation, someone who was exposed to asbestos at work brings home dangerous fibres that are deposited on their clothing and skin. The family members inhale and consume these fibres often not even realizing they are doing it. Since asbestos has no warning properties, this could continue to happen day after day. The most common mesothelioma cases that occur in the United States involve veterans and those who worked in the military. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported that 33% of patients suffering from mesothelioma are veterans. Asbestos is a component of many military equipment, such as ships and aircrafts to make them strong and resistant to flames.
The chance of developing mesothelioma increases with the amount and duration of asbestos exposure. It can also depend on the type of asbestos that a person was exposed to. All forms of asbestos are dangerous, however certain kinds -- chrysotile and crocidolite in particular -- are more likely than others to cause cancer. For instance, chrysotile is frequently linked with lung cancer, while crocidolite is more commonly associated with fibrosis, mesothelioma and other diseases.
After exposure to asbestos, the mesothelioma symptoms can manifest between 10 to 50 years after exposure. This time lag is referred to as the latency period. It is challenging to make an accurate diagnosis. The symptoms of mesothelioma could be confused with those of other illnesses.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos exposure second-hand may be eligible for compensation from companies responsible for the exposure. These lawsuits need an attorney who has experience in finding the source of exposure. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can assist victims with this process and file a successful mesothelioma suit.
In addition to asbestos exposure in the workplace women may also be affected by mesothelioma second-hand from asbestos exposure in the home. This is due to the fact that women, particularly those who were homemakers at a time when asbestos was in high demand, frequently brought home asbestos fibres on their clothing and breathed asbestos fibres.
Environmental Exposure
Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium that covers the lungs, abdomen or testis. The development of the cancer is typically related to exposure to carcinogenic mineral asbestos. Prior to the time that developed countries prohibited or strictly controlled asbestos' use (Europe, Australia, United States), thousands of people were regularly exposed to asbestos at their workplaces and homes.
Different kinds of products contained asbestos, including pipes, insulation, drywall, glues and cement. Workers who handled and put in these products were at highest risk of getting exposed to asbestos. This included construction and industrial workers, as well as those who made asbestos products such as asbestos cement insulation, shingles, insulation, and pipe wraps. In addition to workers who handled asbestos directly some were exposed to asbestos when they inhaled asbestos dust and fibres. Inhaling asbestos dust can cause a variety of health problems, including mesothelioma, lung cancer asbestosis and plaques on the pleural area.
The risk of mesothelioma increasing with the length of time and intensity at the way that a person has been exposed to asbestos while at work. In addition to direct exposure, other factors that increase the risk include family history and residential asbestos exposure.
Certain people have been exposed to asbestos through the inhalation of dust and fibres that travelled on clothing. This type of indirect mesothelioma is referred to as secondary exposure. Indirect exposure can occur when a person moves in to a home that has had asbestos in it.
Patients can also develop mesothelioma due to gene mutations that are related to asbestos exposure. These gene mutations can alter the way that a person's body reacts to asbestos and increases the chances of developing mesothelioma, especially when the person is exposed to a lot of occupational exposure.
Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest from 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. When symptoms appear, people should inform their doctor of their asbestos exposure history. They should also request a referral to a mesothelioma specialist to avoid a false diagnosis and ensure access to a high-quality treatment. The doctor will request imaging scans and blood tests to determine if the patient is suffering from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Genetics
The development of mesothelioma is in part dependent on how much asbestos a person was exposed to and how long the exposure was. However, some people develop mesothelioma at less exposure. It has been suggested that genetic mutations could be the cause of this difference.
Researchers have discovered that specific gene mutations can make individuals more prone to mesothelioma developing. They can also alter the way patients react to chemotherapy. Mutations can lead to overexpression or underexpression of genes and proteins that control the growth of mesothelial cells. The overexpression of these genes and proteins can lead to cell growth, which is the characteristic of mesothelioma.
Scientists have identified a gene mutation called BAP-1 that could increase the chance of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. A mutation in this gene increases the number of mesothelioma cytotoxic cells that the body produces. This can lead to tumors forming in various parts of your body. Asbestos fibers which stick to the lungs can cause mesothelioma that is malignant.
Asbestos fibers can damage DNA and chromosomes. This can cause a variety of different diseases, including mesothelioma. These mutations may also make a patient more vulnerable to asbestos' effects.
In addition to genetic mutations, family history is another risk factor for mesothelioma. Many patients are exposed to asbestos because of their loved ones' work exposure. Asbestos particles can be brought home by workers on their footwear or clothing.
The majority of cases of mesothelioma involve people who were exposed to asbestos at high levels for a long time. Most often, mesothelioma develops years after the initial asbestos exposure. The mesothelioma's latency time may last up to forty years. A small proportion of mesothelioma patients experienced low-level asbestos exposure and developed the disease as a consequence. It is important to understand that a mesothelioma diagnosis does not mean that pericardial mesothelioma cause the patient was exposed to asbestos at any point in their life.