Mesothelioma Causes
Since the first case of mesothelioma came to light, doctors and research scientists have been studying the disease, determined to identify its causes and how to best handle diagnosing and treating the disease. Years of research have led to one major conclusion - the only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer which attacks the lining of the lungs - also known as the mesothelium - is a slowly developing disease that is often seen in those individuals who've worked in industries where asbestos use was rampant. The disease is caused when tiny shards of sharp asbestos fibers are inhaled through the nose or mouth, eventually working their way down to the lungs, where they remain. Once inhaled, researchers have discovered, asbestos fibers cannot be expelled. As years pass, the fibers create scarring in the lungs, and in some instances, tumors eventually develop in the mesothelium or, in rarer cases, in the pericardium or peritoneum.
Who's at Risk for Developing Mesothelioma?
Because the only known cause of mesothelioma is indeed asbestos exposure, individuals who worked with the dangerous mineral prior to the asbestos warnings of the 1970s are at the highest risk of developing the disease. However, it's important to remember that not everyone who worked with asbestos will develop this or any other asbestos-related disease. Scientists are hard-pressed to understand why some individuals are prone to developing the disease and others aren't as susceptible. Research continues in this area.
In the meantime, the industries that have showed the highest incidence of this fatal cancer include:
- Shipbuilding
- Steel workers
- Power plant workers
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Oil refinery workers
- Pipefitters
- Steamfitters
- Contractors/construction workers
- Insulators
- Welders
- Drywallers
- Railroad workers
Why Couldn't These Workers Protect Themselves?
When one considers the causes of mesothelioma, it seems logical that a few simple steps could have insured the safety of workers in the above industries and would have prevented the development of asbestos-related diseases.
Unfortunately, it was often the case that individuals in management positions knew about the dangers of inhaling asbestos but didn't share the information with employees. Therefore, for decades, many laborers toiled in jobs that involved exposure to the toxic mineral, totally unaware that their health was in danger. A mask, respirator, or some other kind of protection may have prevented the inhalation of fibers and hence the development of the disease.
It is many of those unprotected individuals that have - over the past few decades - developed mesothelioma. Slowly, stories about factory owners and managers who refused to inform workers of the dangers of asbestos have been surfacing, resulting in myriad lawsuits from individuals whose health could have been protected with just a few simple steps.