MesotheliomaWhat is Mesothelioma?
Causes of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Exposure can occur in several different locations, but usually results in the same typical breakdown of the mineral. As the asbestos fibers detach from larger asbestos masses, they become airborne and may be inhaled into the lungs or ingested into the abdomen. When the fibers reach the mesothelial tissues, they become embedded in the tissue where they cause physical damage to cells of mesothelium that may result in cancer. In addition, they can also cause damage to the lung cells. This can lead to lung cancer and/or asbestosis (a continued scarring of the lung tissue). Fibers can reach the abdominal cavity if swallowed, where they can cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
Exposure to asbestos occurs mostly in the workplace, but it can also be environmental, or familial through contact with a family member that has worked with or been in contact with asbestos. In one study of asbestos insulation workers, the death rate from mesothelioma was 344 times higher than in the general population. (Selifoff IJ et al. Relation between exposure to asbestos and mesothelioma. NEJM)
