Risk factors

Anything that increases chance of contracting a disease is considered as a risk factor. Like strong exposure to sunlight is a risk factor for developing skin cancer or smoking is a risk factor in developing lung cancer.

In case of mesothelioma Exposure to asbestos is the major risk. Genetic factors are also play a important role, As mesothelioma is now known to occur in those who are genetically pre-disposed to it. A history of asbestos exposure exists in almost all cases of mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some of the individuals without any exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, Thorotrast (intrapleural thorium dioxide), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite.

Asbestos is the name of a group of silicate fibers (minerals) that occur naturally in environment, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been broadly used in many industrial products, including cement, roof shingles, brake linings, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed by employers, and can cause serious health problems in them. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a non-cancerous, chronic lung disease), and other cancers, of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not seem to increase the risk of mesothelioma. The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of its production initially in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. But smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However the combination of smoking and exposure to asbestos significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the airways like lung cancer, bronchial carcinoma etc.

Some studies suggest that some virus such as simian virus 40(SV 40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma. In early experiments with laboratory animals, researchers found that intentional infection with SV40 could cause mesothelioma to develop, and that asbestos increased the cancer-causing effect of SV40. Studies of both mesothelioma patients and healthy people, showed that SV40 virus was not linked to mesothelioma unless the person was also exposed to asbestos.

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