The main risk factor for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, a material that was once used for building insulation. Although asbestos has been banned in the United States since the late 1970s, people who are involved in renovating or demolishing old buildings or those who work in the mining or shipbuilding industries may still come into contact with asbestos.
When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they travel to the ends of the small air passages in the respiratory tract and reach the lining of the lungs, where they can damage the mesothelium in the lungs. If swallowed, these fibers can also reach the lining of the abdominal cavity. Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of developing other cancers, such as tumors in the larynx or gastrointestinal tract.
Some evidence suggests that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as a result of exposure to asbestos dust brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin and hair.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, smokers who also are heavily exposed to asbestos are as much as 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-exposed individuals who do not smoke.
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