Risk Factors – Pleural Mesothelioma

What would put you into a higher risk category for Pleural Mesothelioma? The main risk is asbestos exposure, but this is just the primary risk factor. There are also other matters that could put you at risk. The National Cancer Institute goes over some of the primary and secondary factors in its: Risk Factor and Possible Causes, fact sheet they are;

Asbestos

Exposure to asbestos is the primary risk factor for those who have contracted pleural mesothelioma .Asbestos is an insulating material that is made of magnesium-silicate mineral fibers. It was used by builders and contractors for years for its low heat conductivity and resistance to melting and burning. Since researchers have identified more and more links between mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos, the material is now less widely used. Before this discovery many Americans have been exposure to this harmful substance.

Environmental Protection Agency

Hundreds of thousands of schools and buildings in the America now contain asbestos insulation as according to the E.P.A. (US Environmental Protection Agency). Asbestos exposure doesn’t stop there, however. Asbestos is often found in ship yards, manufacturing facilities, railway facilities and construction sites. Blue collar workers are at the highest risk for developing mesothelioma due to occupational exposure and include those who work in mines, factories, shipyards, construction sites, railroads and for insulation manufacturers and gas mask manufacturers. The jobs that are mostly affected are miners, factory workers, railroad workers, ship builders and construction workers mainly those who worked with asbestos containing insulation. Sometimes family members of the workers would get second hand exposure to asbestos from the dust and fibers that travel home on the workers clothes and also become at risk for contracting mesothelioma.

Radiation

Thoriumdioxide is a substance that was used in x-ray tests in the past has been linked to pleural mesothelioma. The use of Thorotrast (Thorium dioxide) has ended for many years because of this discovery.

Zeolite

Some mesothelioma problems in the Anatoli area in the country of Turkey have been linked to Zeolite, a silica based mineral with chemical properties just like to asbestos found in the ground there.

Simian Virus 40 (SV40)

Some researchers have discovered simian virus 40 in mesothelioma cells from humans and have been able to create mesothelioma in animals with the virus. The relationship between this virus and mesothelioma is not known, but, further research is being done to gain clarify this potential link.

Tobacco

Smoking by itself has not been linked to mesothelioma, but smokers who are exposed to asbestos have a much greater chance of getting lung cancer as much as fifty to ninety percent higher. Scientists have shown that lung cancer is the leading cause of death among asbestos workers.

By: K James

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