How Much Asbestos Can Cause Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in people who have been exposed to asbestos for a prolonged time. Symptoms don't usually appear until 20-60 years after exposure to asbestos. The companies knew about the dangers, but concealed them from workers and the general public.
Most commonly mesothelioma is a problem with the peritoneum, or lungs. It may also affect the heart or testicles.
Exposure to Work
Asbestos workers are at highest risk of developing mesothelioma. Asbestos was a tough inexpensive, fire-resistant and cost-effective material that was extensively used in the construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, and other industries due to its affordability and strength. Many of these jobs required the removal, handling and installation of asbestos-containing products on a daily basis. These workers were exposed to asbestos through indirect exposure to asbestos-containing materials as they were taken home on their clothes, hair or tools. These asbestos-containing fibers could have been inhaled by family members who then developed mesothelioma.
The duration and intensity of an asbestos worker's exposure is the most significant factor in determining if they will develop mesothelioma. The likelihood of developing mesothelioma higher even if someone was exposed to only low levels asbestos for a short time. The mesothelioma signs typically don't manifest until years after the initial exposure. The typical latency time for pleural mesothelioma is 30 to 60 years and for peritoneal mesothelioma, it is between 20 and 40 years.
Pipelayers, electricians and plumbers are the other occupations most likely to develop mesothelioma. Through the 1920s and the 1960s, these occupations were at the forefront of asbestos production and use. Asbestos is often used in the manufacture of vinyl flooring, tiles for floors, and electrical insulation. Asbestos was also used in clutches and brake shoes in addition to other products for construction and manufacturing. Shipyards were another risky workplace for mesothelioma patients, especially Navy yard veterans. People working on and around these vessels handled asbestos-based products, cut and sanded asbestos-containing materials, as well as sawed and sanded asbestos-containing insulation.
Asbestos has the ability to break apart and release sharp micro-sized fibers into the air. Inhaling these asbestos fibers enter the body via small air passages, and then stick to mesothelial cells in the body of a victim. Cells become damaged and inflamed, leading to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is most commonly found in the lung's linings, stomach (peritoneum), the heart (pericardium) and the linings of the tests. To determine if you're eligible for compensation, those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should consult an experienced attorney. Many asbestos companies have established trust funds to pay for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to occupational exposure.
Secondhand Exposure
A lot of people develop mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos in the second degree. This type of situation occurs when a person who has been exposed to asbestos while at work, brings harmful fibres to their skin and clothing. The family members then breathe and consume these fibres often not even realizing they are doing so. Because asbestos has no warning qualities, this can continue day after day. The most common cases of mesothelioma in the United States involve veterans and those who were in the military. OSHA found that 33 percent of mesothelioma patients are veterans. Asbestos was used in numerous military products to make them fire-resistant and durable, such as vessels, ships, aircrafts, and power plants.
The risk of developing mesothelioma rises the more asbestos an individual is exposed to and the length of time. It is also affected by the kind of asbestos to which an individual has been exposed. While all forms of the material are hazardous, some types of asbestos, particularly crocidolite and chrysotile are more likely to cause cancer than others. For instance, chrysotile is frequently linked with lung cancer, whereas crocidolite is more commonly associated with mesothelioma, fibrosis and other diseases.
Mesothelioma symptoms can take between 10 and 50 years to manifest after the first exposure to asbestos. This lag time is known as the latency period. It is challenging to make an accurate diagnosis. Additionally mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of other diseases and are often mistaken for the same symptoms.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos through secondhand exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies that caused the exposure. These lawsuits, however, require an attorney who has experience in tracking the exposure. A mesothelioma lawyer with experience can assist victims with this process and make a successful mesothelioma lawsuit.
In addition to exposure to asbestos in the workplace women may also be affected by secondhand mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure at home. Women, especially those who worked as homemakers during the time when asbestos was highly demanded, brought asbestos fibres home on their clothes and breathed them in.
Environmental Exposure
Mesothelioma can affect the mesothelium that forms the abdomen, lungs, or testis. The development of the cancer is usually caused by exposure to the asbestos mineral, which is a carcinogen. Prior to the time that developed countries prohibited or strictly controlled asbestos' use (Europe, Australia, United States), thousands of people were regularly exposed to the material at their workplaces and homes.
Asbestos was found in a variety of products, including drywall and insulation pipes, adhesives, and cement. Workers who handled or installed these types of products were at the greatest risk of exposure to asbestos. Construction and industrial sectors and those who manufacture asbestos products, such as asbestos cement insulation and shingles, were at risk. In addition to workers who handled asbestos other causes of mesothelioma directly some were exposed to asbestos when they inhaled asbestos dust and fibres. Inhaling asbestos fibres and dust can cause a variety of health problems, including mesothelioma. lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaques.
The risk of developing mesothelioma increases with the length of time and intensity of their work asbestos exposure. Other factors that increase a person’s risk, besides direct exposure, are the family history and exposure to asbestos.
Some people have been inhaled asbestos fibres and dust that was emitted from clothing. This kind of mesothelioma that is indirect is referred to as secondary exposure. Indirect exposure may also occur when someone moves into a home that has had asbestos in it.
Mesothelioma may also be caused by gene mutations related to asbestos exposure. These gene mutations can affect how a person's body responds to asbestos, and increase the chance of developing mesothelioma, particularly in the case of heavy occupational exposure.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can appear between 20 and 60 years after asbestos exposure. If symptoms begin to manifest, patients should inform their doctor of their asbestos exposure history. To avoid a misdiagnosis, they should also ask for a referral to a specialist in mesothelioma to ensure that they receive the best treatment. The doctors will order blood tests and imaging scans to determine if the patient suffers from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Genetics
The onset of mesothelioma can be dependent on the amount of asbestos the person was exposed to and how long the exposure lasted. However, some people develop mesothelioma despite lesser levels of exposure. It has been suggested that genetic mutations could explain this discrepancy.
Researchers have discovered that certain mutations in genes can make people more prone to mesothelioma developing. They could also affect the way patients respond to chemotherapy. Mutations can cause an overexpression or a subexpression of genes and protein that regulate the growth rate of mesothelial cell. Overexpression of these proteins or genes can cause overgrowth of cells that is the hallmark of mesothelioma.
Scientists have identified a gene mutation known as BAP-1 that can increase the risk of developing mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. A mutation in this gene increases the amount of mesothelioma cytotoxic cells that the body produces. This could cause tumors to develop in different parts of your body. For example, asbestos fibers that stick to the lungs (pleura) result in malignant pleural mysothelioma. asbestos fibers that penetrate the abdomen lining (peritoneum) cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
Asbestos particles damage DNA and chromosomes. These can then trigger a number of diseases, including mesothelioma. These mutations may also make a patient more vulnerable to the effects of asbestos.
In addition to genetic mutations, family history is another risk factor for mesothelioma. This is because many victims are exposed to asbestos as a result of their loved ones' work exposure. Asbestos particles can be ingested from work by rubbing them on clothing or shoes.
The majority of mesothelioma cases are a result of exposure to asbestos at high levels for a long period of time. Most often mesothelioma is diagnosed years after the initial asbestos exposure. The mesothelioma latency period could last for up to forty years. However, a tiny percentage of patients with mesothelioma experienced low-level exposure to asbestos and developed this disease because of it. It is important to understand that a mesothelioma diagnosis will not mean that a person was exposed to asbestos at any point in their life.