Retired manufacturing workers and current employees should know how mesothelioma develops, because they could have or could still be working with asbestos products. The process of how mesothelioma develops is long and slow, often taking decades for the victim to show any symptoms.

Due to the fact that asbestos was used in so many industrial applications, people who live in older homes or worked on older cars should also be aware of how mesothelioma develops.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that manifests in the lining around the lungs. The condition is caused by embedded asbestos fibers. The body can go through a number of changes depending on how mesothelioma develops including:

• Inflamed and irritated mesothelial cells, which can cause permanent scarring and cellular damage
• Fibers can enter mesothelial cells and interfere with their life cycle, causing genetic changes
• Fibers can cause the production of free radicals, which are dangerous molecules that damage DNA and can morph healthy cells into cancerous ones
• Fibers can cause oncoproteins to be produced, which prevents genes that prevent cells from uncontrollably reproducing and forming tumors

Asbestos is a fibrous material that was popularly used for a wide range of manufacturing and insulation purposes before the 1980s due to how cheap it was to utilize. In addition, asbestos is also fire and chemical resistant, which made it an ideal choice for insulation piping on United States Navy ships and in train yards.

Asbestos fibers can either be inhaled or swallowed, which is how mesothelioma develops in the beginning stages. Asbestos fibers can either be inhaled directly or through second hand exposure, for example by loved ones who handled the clothing of the first hand victim.

It is important to note that mesothelioma can take up to 50 years to develop to the point where patients exhibit symptoms — often resulting in late diagnoses and limited treatment options. With this in mind, it is important for people in the United States to know how mesothelioma develops and the risk factors surrounding it.

Overview of Asbestos Mesothelioma

The dangers of asbestos exposure were not widely known until the 20th century, after numerous medical researchers found that the disease was caused by asbestos exposure and found an increased rate of incidents in the manufacturing industry.

The concerns of asbestos health problems continue to persist in the United States, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reconfirming that asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma in March 2009.

It is important to note that all forms of asbestos contribute to the development of mesothelioma, with researchers noting that the fibers were carcinogenic regardless of size or length.

While asbestos is not completely banned in the United States, federal health regulators have imposed strict removal requirements and have mandated that manufacturing companies provide disclosures to clients and workers of potential asbestos exposure. The main risk factors for mesothelioma development include:

• Working at or near an asbestos mine or asbestos processing plant
• Working in a high risk occupation like construction or heavy manufacturing
• Serving on military ships or facilities that contain asbestos products
• Living near an asbestos mine or contaminated site
• Disturbing asbestos products during some kind of renovation process without proper precautions