The largest risk factor for mesothelioma is to people who have worked with asbestos. Being exposed to asbestos at work is reported in about 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases, making it the major risk factor. Some mesothelioma patients report no asbestos exposure, ruling it out as a risk factor.
Asbestos is the name for natural minerals that have strong, flexible fibers that are separated into threads and woven together. In the past, asbestos was extensively used in many products, like cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. People who have worked with these products have a higher risk factor.
Additionally, many cases have been reported of family members of asbestos workers getting the disease. This is another risk factor, since the fibers were brought into the home on the clothes of the workers, which increased the risk to their families.
The overall amount of asbestos exposure, along with the length of time the exposure lasted, adds to the risk of getting mesothelioma. The younger a person is at first exposure and the longer period of time of higher levels of exposure puts these people at a higher risk of developing this disease. It takes a long time for mesothelioma to develop; somewhere between 20 and 40 years, so a lot of people do not know they are at risk. Genetic factors also seem to play a factor in determining who is at risk for this disease, explaining why everyone exposed to high levels of asbestos are not at risk of getting the disease.
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