Before we can understand how asbestos causes mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer, we need to understand what asbestos is. Asbestos is the generic name for a group of highly fibrous minerals. They are/were used in construction and for industrial purposes because of their heat-resistant and durable nature. Basically, their particles are small and attaches easily to lung tissues, once in, they tend to stay in the lungs for long periods of time.
Pretty much all of us have been or will be exposed to low levels of asbestos in our lifetime. Problem comes when those who have worked in occupations with high levels of exposure such as in the field of auto repair, construction, mining, etc.
Problem comes when one is exposed to high levels of asbestos. In a nutshell, since asbestos tend to stay in the lungs for long periods of time, those who are exposed to high levels of it can seriously impair their lung functions (often times symptoms appear many years after the initial high exposure), and that’s how mesothelioma has a chance to develop.
For more information, check out the gevernment’s page on asbestos.
There have been people who have been exposed to high concentrations of asbestos particles in the air and these particles clung to the fibers in their clothing. Basically they were carriers of asbestos particles when they arrived home exposing their families unsuspectinly too. It is not known if these amounts were enough to produce mesothelioma cancer in family members thus far as mesothelioma can take 20-40 years after exposure for someone to develop this form of deadly cancer.
Left by oklahomacitymesothelioma.com on February 5th, 2009