Risk Factors for Mesothelioma Cancer

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Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the U.S. each year. The disease can manifest in the lungs, the lining of the abdomen or the pericardium. Mesothelioma is linked almost exclusively to asbestos exposure. There are many risk factors for developing mesothelioma.

1. Work Environment

   • Occupational asbestos exposure is most likely to be a problem for those who work in industries such as shipbuilding; teachers, pipefitters, construction workers and those who served in the Navy also face an elevated risk.

   Residential Life

   • Those who live near mines, industrial plants or certain types of factories may have been exposed to airborne asbestos particles.

   Working Abroad

   • If you worked abroad in countries with less stringent asbestos standards, you may have been put at risk for asbestos exposure, which could lead to mesothelioma later in life. Countries in Africa are still dealing with asbestos issues, as are Korea, India and Bangladesh.

   Mining

   • Miners who mine ore like taconite, vermiculite or naturally occurring forms of asbestos may also be at risk. Asbestos-laced mineral ore is still mined accidentally sometimes in the US. For example, limestone quarries sometimes can contain asbestos. And asbestos mines are still active in Canada, Russia and India.

   Family

   • If a loved one works with asbestos, or was exposed to asbestos, you might be exposed to asbestos fibers they bring home on their clothing. There have been several documented cases where housewives who laundered their husband's work clothes developed mesothelioma.