How Much Asbestos Can Cause Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos for a prolonged period of. Symptoms usually don't appear until 20 to 60 years after exposure. The companies knew about the dangers, but concealed them from workers and public.
Most commonly mesothelioma is a problem with the peritoneum or lungs. It can also affect the testicles or heart.
Exposure to occupational hazards
Asbestos workers have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma. Asbestos is a durable and fire-resistant material that is commonly used in manufacturing, construction ships, ship building and other industries due to its durability and affordability. Many of these jobs required the removal, handling and installation of asbestos-containing materials daily. They were also exposed by exposure to asbestos-containing products were carried home on clothing, hair, or tools. Family members could have swallowed or inhaled these asbestos fibers, which caused them to develop mesothelioma.
The duration and the intensity of exposure to asbestos are the most important factors in determining if asbestos workers will develop mesothelioma. The likelihood of developing mesothelioma increased even if a person was exposed to only low levels of asbestos for a brief period of time. The mesothelioma signs typically are not evident until decades after the initial exposure. The typical time of latency is between 30 and 60 years for pleural, and 20 to 40 for the peritoneal.
Plumbers, pipelayers and electricians are also at high risk of developing mesothelioma. During the 1920s and into the 1960s, these jobs were at the forefront of asbestos production and usage. Asbestos was often put in electrical insulation, floor tiles and vinyl siding. Asbestos is also used in brake shoes and clutches, as well as other products used in construction and manufacturing. Shipyards were another high-risk working environment for mesothelioma particularly Navy yard veterans. Those who worked on and near these vessels frequently dealt with asbestos-based insulation, and also sanded, cut and sawed asbestos-containing materials.
Asbestos is unique in its ability to break down and release microscopic, sharp fibers into air. When inhaled, these asbestos fibers enter the body via small air passages and stick to mesothelial cells in the body of a victim. Cells become damaged and inflamed, leading to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma typically occurs in the lining of the lung (pleura) the stomach lining (peritoneum), heart lining (pericardium) and the lining of the testes (tunica vaginalis). To determine if you are qualified for compensation, people who have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma can contact an experienced attorney. Many asbestos companies have set up trust funds to compensate those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of occupational exposure.
Secondhand Exposure
Mesothelioma is often caused by asbestos exposure secondary to the disease. This type of situation occurs when someone who was exposed to asbestos while at work, brings harmful fibres home on their skin and clothing. The family members then inhale and consume these fibres often not even realizing they are doing so. Because asbestos has no warning qualities, this can continue to occur day after day. The most common cases of mesothelioma in the United States involve veterans and those who worked in the military. OSHA reported that 33 percent of mesothelioma sufferers are veterans. Asbestos is used in many military equipment, such as ships and aircrafts to make them more durable and resistant to flames.
The risk of mesothelioma is increased the more asbestos an individual is exposed to and for how long. It can also depend on the type of asbestos that an individual was exposed to. All types of asbestos are harmful, but certain types -- chrysotile or the crocidolite type in particular are more likely to cause cancer. For example, chrysotile asbestos is often linked to lung cancer, whereas Crocidolite is more frequently associated with mesothelioma, fibrosis, and other ailments.
After exposure to asbestos, the symptoms of mesothelioma can develop anywhere between 10 and 50 years later. This time period is referred to as the latency period. It is challenging to make an accurate diagnosis. In addition, the symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases and could be misinterpreted as the same symptoms.
People who have been exposed to asbestos exposure from secondhand sources may be able to claim compensation from companies responsible for the exposure. However these lawsuits require an attorney with experience finding the source of exposure. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can help victims navigate this process and make a successful mesothelioma lawsuit.
In addition to exposure to asbestos in the workplace women may also suffer from mesothelioma that is secondhand due to asbestos exposure in the home. Women, particularly those who were homemakers during a time when asbestos was in high demand took asbestos fibres home on their clothes and inhaled them.
Environmental Exposure
Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium that covers the lungs, abdomen, or testis. The development of cancer is usually caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a carcinogenic mineral. Before the developed nations strictly regulated (United States) or banned (Europe, Australia) the use of the material, thousands of people were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis at work and in their homes.
Asbestos was present in a wide range of products, including drywall and insulation pipes, adhesives, pipes and cement. Workers who handled or put up these materials had the most risk of exposure to asbestos. These workers included construction and industrial workers and those who made asbestos products such as asbestos cement insulation, shingles, insulation, and pipe wraps. In addition, to those who handled asbestos directly other workers were exposed when they inhaled asbestos dust and fibres. Inhaling asbestos can cause many health issues, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, asbestosis and plaques on the pleural area.
The risk of developing mesothelioma increased with the amount of time and intensity of their workplace asbestos exposure. Other factors that increase an individual's risk, besides direct exposure, are family history and residential exposure to asbestos.
Certain people have breathed in asbestos fibers and dust from clothing. This type of indirect mesothelioma is referred to as secondary exposure. Indirect exposure can also occur if a person moves in to the home with asbestos in it.
Mesothelioma can also be caused by gene mutations linked to asbestos exposure. These gene mutations can affect the way that a person's immune system reacts to asbestos, increasing their chance of developing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma symptoms can be seen in any time between 20 and 60 years after exposure to asbestos. If symptoms begin to manifest, patients must inform their doctor about their asbestos exposure history. They should also seek a referral to mesothelioma specialists to avoid a misdiagnosis and ensure access to 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 what causes pleural mesothelioma much asbestos the person was exposed to and the length of time the exposure was. However, some people develop mesothelioma at lesser levels of exposure. It has been suggested that genetic mutations could explain this discrepancy.
Researchers have discovered that certain gene mutations can make people more prone to developing mesothelioma. They could also affect the way patients respond to chemotherapy. Mutations can cause an overexpression or a subexpression of proteins and genes that regulate the growth rate of mesothelial cell. The overexpression of these genes and proteins can lead to cell growth, which is a characteristic of mesothelioma.
Scientists have identified a gene mutation called BAP-1 that can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. A mutation in this particular gene increases the number of cytotoxic cells from mesothelioma that the body produces. This may lead to formation of tumors in different areas of the body. For example asbestos fibers that stick to the lung tissue (pleura) can cause malignant pleural mesothelioma, while asbestos fibers that penetrate the abdomen lining (peritoneum) cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
Asbestos fibers can harm DNA and chromosomes. This can cause range of diseases such as mesothelioma. These mutations can also make a patient more vulnerable to the effects of asbestos.
In addition to genetic mutations, family history is another risk factor for mesothelioma. Many victims are exposed asbestos because of their loved ones' occupational exposure. Exposure can occur when asbestos particles infiltrate the workplace and then are carried home by a worker's clothes or shoes.
Most cases of mesothelioma are the result of those who have been exposed to high levels asbestos over a long time. In most cases, patients diagnosed mesothelioma years after their initial exposure to asbestos. The mesothelioma's latency time could last for up to forty years. However, a small percentage of mesothelioma patients had low-level exposure to asbestos, and developed the disease as a result. It is important to remember that a mesothelioma diagnosis will not mean that the person was exposed to asbestos at any time during their lifetime.