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Who is at risk of getting mesothelioma?
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer disease caused by unprotected exposure to asbestos dust and fibers. It is a very rare
deadly cancer. However, number of people who have died from it have dramatically increased the last few decades.
Mesothelioma is more common in men but is not restricted to any sex, ethnic group or race.
What causes mesothelioma?
People get mesothelioma when they are exposed to asbestos without proper protection. Due of the
lack security conditions, exposed people inhale minuscule asbestos fibers and dust from environmental atmosphere.
Currently, it is still unknown why asbestos leads cancer in the mesothelial cells, and it is undeterminated how
many fibers are needed for the cancer tumor to occur. What scientists know is that high hazardous fibers
pass into the respiratory system and end up becoming lodged in the lungs. Depending of body resistance it is possible
to get mesothelioma from as little as a couple of months of inhalation or it would take good years of asbestos
exposure to cause cancer.
Initially located in lungs, asbestos fibers may reach other body places and organs over time trough the lymphatic
system. An accumulation of asbestos fibers in the lining of the lungs (called pleura) may cause deformation of
nearby cells, eventually resulting to what is known as pleural mesothelioma. Accumulation of asbestos fibers in
the lining of the abdomen (called peritoneum ) may lead to peritoneal mesothelioma and high buildup of asbestos around
the tissue of the heart can cause pericardial mesothelioma.
Who is at risk of getting mesothelioma?
1. First of all exposed people or those who have worked amongst asbestos such as construction workers and asbestos
manufacturers that have inhaled these deadly fibers for a long. They had the largest contact with asbestos and
they are at highest risk.
2. Secondly people living in neighborhood of asbestos mills and manufactures where work process runs without
protection. They can inhale the deadly fibers from atmosphere. This category is at moderate risk of developing
mesothelioma.
3. Lastly, those having contact with the above people or contaminated places. Exposed people may have asbestos dust and fibers on their
skin, hair, clothes. In contaminated places, asbestos might be everywhere. That means a small risk of cancer, but a risk anyway.
NOTE: The Information on this site is provided for information only,
and is not meant to substitute for the advice of a professional.
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