Causes of Mesothelioma

Causes of Mesothelioma

What causes Mesothelioma?

In more than 90 percent of the cases, exposure to asbestos is the major cause of mesothelioma. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they reach the pleura through the smallest air passages. When these fibers adhere to the pleural mesothelial cells, they can cause malignant tumors to form.

They may also cause damage to cells in the lungs resulting in lung cancer. When these fibers are swallowed, they may reach the abdominal cavity, where they play a major role in the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure comes mostly from the workplace, but it can also be obtained from the clothing of asbestos workers brought into the household. Regardless of where the exposure originates, in can cause mesothelioma.

More than 20 years can pass by before the asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma. In some cases up 40 years or more from first exposure can elapse before mesolthelioma is caused. There have also been some cases documented of a latency period of less than 20 years when the disease is caused.

The longer the exposure and the intensity of the asbestos will also cause the chances of contracting mesothelioma to increase.