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Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been used in
numerous industrial products such as brake lining, insulation, and roofing
materials.
When workers use these products, they may be exposed to asbestos dust.
Workers breathe airborne asbestos fibers, which then become lodged in the
lungs. These tiny fibers can work their way through the lungs and into the
membrane surrounding the lungs.
The asbestos fibers irritate the mesothelium or peritoneum, eventually
causing cancerous cells to develop.
After these fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends of small air
passages and reach the pleura where they damage mesothelial cells. The
damage they cause is through inflammation and scarring as well as
stimulating the growth of these cells. Finally, they may damage DNA and
cause changes that result in uncontrolled growth.
In addition, they also
cause injury to lung cells that can result in lung cancer and/or asbestosis
(replacement of lung tissue by scar tissue). If swallowed, these fibers can
reach the abdominal cavity where they have a role in causing peritoneal
mesothelioma.
Researchers are studying exactly how asbestos causes
mesothelial cells to develop into a mesothelioma. |
