How Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?
What is asbestos? We hear a lot about asbestos in the news, and how it can cause various cancers such as mesothelioma, but how does the cancer happen?
Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, found in rock and soil. Asbestos can be pulled into a fibrous material and used as insulation and added to paper, cloth, cement and other materials. Prior to 1980, asbestos was generally used as a fire retardant in home building materials, clothing and ship building. But if asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can cause scarring on the lungs and lead to lung cancer or a condition called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin layer of tissue covering the lungs or chest wall. It can also happen in the abdomen, around the heart and around the testicles.
How Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?
Cancer is generally caused by a series of genetic mutations within a cell. According to researchers from the University of Hawaii Cancer Research Center, asbestos fibers may specifically cause cancer by creating an inflammatory reaction in the cell that releases mutagens and encourages tumor growth. While some people with years of exposure never develop cancer, others can develop mesothelioma with only brief exposure. People who smoke tobacco and have been exposed to asbestos seem to have a much higher risk of developing mesothelioma as well.While we can’t know exactly why any specific individual develops cancer, there are several known risk factors for mesothelioma:
- Personal history of exposure to asbestos: Professionals in the construction industry, former military service members, and firefighters are particularly at risk. Asbestos is still common in older buildings, and demolition or fires can dislodge old asbestos fibers in dust or smoke. Military service members may be at risk because of the wide use of asbestos as a fire retardant and below decks in many Navy ships prior to the 1970’s.
- Living with someone who works with asbestos: Many professions are exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. Firefighters, construction workers, and former military personnel can all be exposed to asbestos, sometimes without even knowing it. Asbestos fibers can lodge in the hair, skin and clothing, so if a worker is exposed to asbestos, they can carry those fibers home and expose their family to asbestos as well. Because it can take decades for mesothelioma to be diagnosed, many people exposed in their younger years may not even know about their illness yet.
- A family history of mesothelioma: If a parent, sibling or child has mesothelioma, you are at increased risk of the disease.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of your or a loved one's asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to compensation and assistance. For a FREE consultation, call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-MESO (6376), or contact us here.
