The main cause for malignant mesothelioma is contact with asbestos. When a person breathes in asbestos fibers, they can travel to the ends of the small air passages and reach the lining of the lungs. After time, they can damage the mesothelial cells (the lining of the lung cells). If swallowed, these fibers can reach the lining of the abdominal cavity where they play a part in causing peritoneal mesothelioma.

A latency period of 20 to 50 years or more between initial exposure and development of malignant mesothelioma is common, which is why diagnosing mesothelioma can be such a difficult task.

The chances of suffering from mesothelioma rise with the intensity and duration of exposure to asbestos.

How much exposure to asbestos does it take to cause mesothelioma?

Exposure for as little as 1 to 2 months can result in mesothelioma 40 years later.  There are about 2,000-3,000 new mesothelioma cases diagnosed per year in this country. Most people who get mesothelioma are over 65 years old. Men are much more likely than women to get this disease.

Between 1940 and 1979, as many as 27.5 million people worked in occupations in which substantial exposure to asbestos was common. A hundred million American workers had at least some exposure.

Between 2,000 and 5,000 people a year die because of asbestos, mostly from mesothelioma and lung cancers. Tens of thousands of others suffer from asbestosis. The average survival time for people diagnosed with mesothelioma is about 1 to 2 years.

Malignant Mesothelioma: Who's at risk?

Numerous cases of malignant mesothelioma occurred among people with very little occupational or household exposure. There are cases of people getting malignant mesothelioma 30 or 40 years after a summer job working construction, and housewives or children being exposed from work clothing.

This important fact should not be overlooked, and if you or a loved one has malignant mesothelioma, contact us for a free case evaluation regardless of the length of your exposure.

Prior to the mid-1970's, most insulation materials contained asbestos. Many other construction materials also contained asbestos, including pipe insulation; boiler insulation; fireproofing spray; firebrick and gunnite (used for internal insulation of furnaces and boilers); roof, floor and ceiling tiles; transite siding; and automotive brakes and clutches.

Because occupational exposure to asbestos often accounts for the most prolonged and intense exposure, many people who worked with asbestos now suffer from malignant mesothelioma.