Almost always, mesothelioma is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. That might have been 20 years ago, or 30 or 40 years ago. That’s how long it takes for the cancer to show itself. Usually the exposure has happened in a workplace.Â
A mesothelium is a membrane with covers body organs. Typically, mesothelioma occurs on the membrane around the lungs, called the pleura. Occasionally it occurs on the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or of the heart (the pericardium).
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a term referring to a group of minerals which are unusual in that they are fibrous. They are composed of thin, long crystals which are pliable and soft but very strong. Asbestos is fire-resistant, does not conduct electricity, resists chemical change, and blocks sound. Those properties make it very useful in many industries such as plumbing, electrical insulation, and building construction. It has also been woven into fabric and used in mixing cement.
For about a century, asbestos was widely used, and people who worked with it or mined it were exposed to the tiny fibers which float in the air. They are highly durable and strong because of the remarkable properties of asbestos.
How Mesothelioma Develops
When the little fibers are breathed in, they become lodged in the lungs. When they are ingested, they lodge in the abdominal cavity. The body responds to them according to what they are – foreign bodies. Special cells called macrophages travel in the bloodstream to each fiber and try to do their usual job of engulfing them and carrying them off to be excreted from the body.
But because asbestos resists chemical change, the macrophages cannot engulf the fibers, and instead die trying. The dead cells accumulate. The fibers cause chronic irritation to the mesothelial tissue, so that gradually inflammation sets in, and a tumor forms, eventually becoming cancerous. Like all malignant tumors, it can spread through the circulatory system – a progression known as metastasizing.
People at Risk for Mesothelioma
People Employed in an Asbestos Mine
Asbestos fibers would have been thick in the air inside any mine or tunnels. This would have been major exposure if no protection was worn such as a face mask.
People Employed in a Construction-Related Industry
Anyone involved in plumbing or electrical work, in drywall, pipefitting, sheet metal, vinyl flooring, boilers, and other related trades would have had daily exposure.
People Employed in Remodeling or Demolition of Older Buildings
A building constructed before 1980 will have asbestos throughout, and even buildings erected after that date might still have it in the roofing or floors. Pulling down any of these older structures creates a lot of dust carrying asbestos fibers.
Shipyard Workers
During the century or so that asbestos was using in the building trades, it was also used in ship-building. It was used to insulate boilers, steam and hot water pipes, and incinerators. Longshoremen were exposed in handling fireproofing materials and insulation.
Family Members of Those Exposed to Asbestos
If you shared a household with someone who was exposed to asbestos on the job, you were probably exposed also. That family member would have brought home fibers in clothing, on shoes, in hair etc., which would have spread around the house into the air and been breathed in by anyone living in the house.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or if you have a loved one who has, you might want to learn more about your legal situation. There are increasing numbers of mesothelioma lawsuits being filed, some of them class action suits. No doubt there will be more as the Baby Boomer generation ages and more people are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
If you are anywhere in Maryland, you can schedule a consultation with one of the mesothelioma attorneys at Parker, Dumler & Kiely LLP. They specialize in mesothelioma litigation and know all the ropes.
