How Much Asbestos Can Cause Mesothelioma
Many patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma because of heavy, prolonged exposure to asbestos. The symptoms usually do not manifest until 20 to 60 years after exposure. Manufacturers knew about the dangers but kept them from employees and the public.
Mesothelioma is most often found in the lungs or peritoneum. It may also affect the heart or testicles.
Exposure to Occupational Hazards
Asbestos-related workers are at the most risk of developing mesothelioma. Asbestos was a tough inexpensive, fire-resistant and cost-effective material that was extensively used in shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing and other industries due to its affordability and strength. Many of these jobs required the removal, handling, and installation of asbestos-containing materials on a daily basis. They were also exposed by exposure to asbestos-containing products were carried home on their clothing hair, clothing, or other tools. Family members could have inhaled or swallowed these asbestos fibers, which caused mesothelioma development.
The length and the intensity of an asbestos worker's exposure is the primary factor in whether or not they develop mesothelioma. However, a person's mesothelioma risk increases even if they've been exposed to low levels of asbestos for a brief amount of time. Mesothelioma is usually not able to show symptoms until decades after exposure. The average latency period is between 30 and 60 years for pleural and 20 to 40 years for the peritoneal.
Electricians, pipelayers and plumbers are also at high risk of developing mesothelioma. Through the 1920s and the 1960s, these professions were at the forefront of asbestos production and usage. Asbestos is commonly used in vinyl flooring, tiles for floors and electrical insulation. Asbestos is also used in brake shoes and clutches and other products for manufacturing and construction. Shipyards, and particularly veterans of the Navy yard, were among the most risky environments for mesothelioma. Workers on and around these ships handled asbestos-based products, cut and sanded asbestos-containing materials, and cut and sanded asbestos-based insulation.
Asbestos has the unique ability to break up and release sharp micro-sized fibers into the air. Inhaling these asbestos fibers enter the body via small air passages, and then stick to the mesothelial cells of the victim. Cells become damaged and inflamed, leading to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is found most often in the linings of the lung, stomach (peritoneum) and the heart (pericardium), and the linings of the testes. Individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma must consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to determine if they are eligible for compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have set trust funds to compensate those who have developed mesothelioma due to occupational exposure.
Secondhand Exposure
Mesothelioma can be caused by secondary asbestos exposure. This kind of situation happens when someone who was exposed to asbestos while working brings dangerous fibres home on their clothing and skin. The fibres are then breathed in and consumed by family members, often without their knowledge. Asbestos does not have any warning properties, so this can happen day after day. The most frequent cases of mesothelioma in the United States involve veterans and those who were in the military. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has stated that 33% of patients suffering from mesothelioma are veterans. Asbestos was utilized in a variety of military products to make them more resistant to flames and durable, including vessels, ships aircrafts, aircrafts, and power plants.
The risk of mesothelioma is increased the more asbestos a person has been exposed to and how long. It can also be affected by the kind of asbestos to which a person has been exposed. While all forms of the material are harmful, certain types of asbestos, particularly the crocidolite and chrysotile forms are more likely to cause cancer than other types. For example, the chrysotile form of the material is most often associated with lung cancer, whereas the crocidolite asbestos type is more frequently associated with mesothelioma as well as other fibrosis-related conditions.
Mesothelioma symptoms can last anywhere from 10 to 50 years to develop following the first exposure to asbestos. This time lag is referred to as the latency period. It is difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis. The symptoms of mesothelioma may be confused with symptoms of other illnesses.
Those who have experienced asbestos exposure from secondhand sources could be eligible for compensation from companies responsible for the exposure. These lawsuits require an attorney with experience in finding the source of exposure. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can aid victims with this process and file a successful mesothelioma suit.
In addition to exposure to asbestos in the workplace other causes of mesothelioma women may also be affected by mesothelioma second-hand from household asbestos exposure. Women, especially those who worked as homemakers during a time when asbestos was in high demand took asbestos fibers home on their clothing and breathed them in.
Environmental Exposure
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium lining the lungs (pleura), the abdomen, or the testis. The development of cancer is often due to exposure to asbestos, which is a carcinogenic mineral. Before the developed nations have banned or strictly regulated asbestos use (Europe, Australia, United States), thousands of people were exposed to the mineral at their work places and at home.
Many kinds of products contain asbestos, such as pipes, insulation, drywall, glues and cement. Workers who handled and put in these products were at highest risk of getting exposed to asbestos. Construction and industrial sectors and those who made asbestos-based products such as asbestos cement, insulation and shingles were at risk. Workers who handled asbestos directly were not the only ones who were exposed. Others were also exposed through inhaling asbestos fibres and dust. Inhaling asbestos can trigger a myriad of health issues, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer asbestosis, and plaques on the pleural area.
The chance of a person developing mesothelioma is increased by the amount of time and intensity of their work asbestos exposure. Other factors that increase a person's risk, in addition to direct exposure, include family history and residential exposure to asbestos.
Some people have been exposed to asbestos through the inhalation of dust and fibres that traveled on clothing. This type of indirect mesothelioma is known as secondary exposure. Indirect exposure can also occur if an individual moves into the home with asbestos in it.
Patients can also develop mesothelioma through genetic mutations resulting from asbestos exposure. These gene mutations may affect the way an individual's immune system reacts to asbestos, increasing their chance of developing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma symptoms may manifest from between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos. When symptoms first start to manifest, one should consult their doctor and inform them about the history of asbestos exposure. To avoid misdiagnosis, they should also seek a referral to a specialist in mesothelioma to ensure a high-quality treatment. The specialized doctors will order imaging scans and blood tests to determine whether an individual suffers from mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease.
Genetics
The onset of mesothelioma can be loosely related to how much asbestos an individual was exposed to and how long that exposure lasts. However, some people develop mesothelioma even with lower levels of 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 could also affect the way that patients react to chemotherapy. Mutations can lead to the overexpression or subexpression of genes and proteins that regulate the growth rate of mesothelial cell. The overexpression of these genes as well as proteins can result in cell overgrowth, which is the hallmark of mesothelioma.
Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation known as BAP-1 which can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. A mutation in this gene increases the number of cytotoxic cells from mesothelioma produced by the body. This can cause tumors to form in different parts of your body. For instance asbestos fibers that stick to the lungs (pleura) can cause malignant pleural mesothelioma, while asbestos fibers that enter the abdomen the lining (peritoneum) cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
Asbestos fibers can damage DNA and the chromosomes. This can lead to a variety of illnesses that include mesothelioma. These mutations can also make a person more sensitive to the effects of asbestos.
Family history is a risk factor for mesothelioma, in addition to genetic mutations. Many victims are exposed asbestos due to their loved ones' occupational exposure. Asbestos particles can be ingested by workers on their footwear or clothing.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by those who have been exposed to high levels asbestos over a long time. Most often mesothelioma begins to develop years after the initial asbestos exposure. The mesothelioma latency time can be as long as 40 years. However, a tiny percentage of patients with mesothelioma experienced low-level exposure to asbestos and developed the disease as a result. A mesothelioma diagnose does not necessarily mean that the patient was exposed to asbestos.