Mesothelioma Causes
Up to 9 out of 10 cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibres that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant to heat and chemicals.
Before the 1980s, asbestos was imported to the UK in large quantities. It was used in construction, ship-building and in household appliances. When asbestos is disturbed or damaged, it releases tiny fibres that can be breathed into the lungs and cause inflammation, a build-up of scar tissue (fibrosis) and sometimes cancer.
During the 1960s the first definite link between mesothelioma and asbestos was made. Asbestos is now known to be the most common cause of the disease.
Family members of people who worked with asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes have sometimes developed mesothelioma. There are three types of asbestos: blue, brown and white. Blue and brown asbestos, are most commonly linked with mesothelioma. They are now very rarely used and cannot be imported into the UK. Originally, white asbestos was not thought to be dangerous but recent studies have now shown that it is also harmful. Mesothelioma does not usually develop until 10 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos and for this reason it is often difficult to discover the exact cause.
Mesothelioma Causes
Mesothelioma causes are limited to direct and secondary asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure is known to be responsible for a variety of health issues, including:
- Malignant mesothelioma
- Asbestos lung cancer
- Asbestosis
- Diffuse pleural thickening
- Fibrosis
Asbestosis results from the inhalation of respirable asbestos fibers (50 microns or more in length and 0.5 microns or less in diameter), which assume a longitudinal orientation in the airway and move in the direction of airflow. The fibers penetrate respiratory bronchioles and alveolar walls. Sources include the mining and milling of asbestos, the construction industry, and the fireproofing and textile industries. Asbestos was also used in the production of paints, plastics, and brake and clutch linings.
Mesothelioma Causes is Asbestos
Inhaled fibers become encased in a brown, proteinlike sheath rich in iron (ferruginous bodies or asbestos bodies), found in sputum and lung tissue. Interstitial fibrosis develops in lower lung zones, causing obliterative changes in lung parenchyma and pleurae. Raised hyaline plaques may form in parietal pleura, diaphragm, and pleura contiguous with the pericardium. Asbestosis occurs in 4 of every 10,000 people.
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