asbestos. A history of some amount of asbestos exsposure exists in
almost all cases of this disease. However, it is possible and cases
have been reported in some individuals who had no known exposure to
asbestos. Also in some rare cases mesothelioma has been associated
with irradiation, Thorotrast (intrapleural thorium dioxide), and the
inhalation of other fibrous silicates such as erionite.
Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as strong,
flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven
together. Asbestos has been widely used in many different industrial
products including: cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring
products, textiles, and insulation. When tiny particles of asbestos
float around in the air, especially during the manufacturing process,
they can be inhaled or swallowed, which can cause serious health
problems. Not only does exsposure to asbestos put you at risk for
developing mesothelioma, but it also increases the risk for lung
cancer, a noncancerous chronic lung ailment called asbestosis, and
cancers such as those of the larynx and kidney.
There is no link between smoking and mesothelioma, but it should be
known that the combination of smoking and asbestos exsposure
significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the
airways including lung cancer and bronchial carcinoma. In the 1950's
the Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in their filters for the
first few years of production which caused some cases of mesothelioma,
however smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk
of mesothelioma.
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