The short answer is that mesothelioma is caused by asbestos fibers that were inhaled or ingested. Mesothelioma gets its name from the mesothelium, the membrane where this cancer begins. Mesothelium is the type of membrane that lines the abdomen and chest cavities. In the chest it is called the pleura, and in the abdomen it is called the peritoneum.
Asbestos Exposure
Workers who were exposed to particles of asbestos, either from mining, industrial use, manufacturing or construction are not the only victims. Family members can be exposed to fibers brought home on a worker’s clothing, or airborne particles in high density, such as near construction, mining or manufacturing sites. In addition to those sources, home renovation projects can expose unsuspecting people to asbestos fibers, as they tear out walls, insulation, countertops and flooring that was installed before the dangers of asbestos were discovered.
Is Smoking a Cause?
Smoking can cause cancer and it can increase the odds of getting cancer when mesothelioma is present, but is not a cause of mesothelioma. The chronic inflammation caused by smoking can contribute to the growth of cancer cells in two ways.
- By causing chronic inflammation and irritation directly
- By lowering the victim’s resistance, which makes him more susceptible to cancer
How do asbestos fiber get to the mesothelium?
Since asbestos fibers travel through the soft lung tissue to the mesothelium they don’t remain in contact with lung tissue enough to cause cancer. Instead, they lodge in the membrane that surrounds the lungs. Over time the cancerous mesothelioma cells can spread to the lung tissue.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Brown | Kiely, LLP.
