Unfortunately, there’s no exact amount of asbestos exposure known to cause mesothelioma. The disease can develop after a brief exposure or after years of repeated exposure.
Asbestos fibers can damage the lining of the lungs or abdomen when breathed in or swallowed. Long-term irritation can lead to mesothelioma 10-50 years later.
As a result, anyone who was exposed to asbestos earlier in life, such as through jobs like construction, shipbuilding, or military service, could be at risk of mesothelioma today.
“There is no ‘safe’ level of asbestos exposure for any type of asbestos fiber. Asbestos exposures as short in duration as a few days have caused mesothelioma in humans.”
– Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Does Everyone Exposed to Asbestos Get Mesothelioma?
Not everyone who breathes in or swallows asbestos gets mesothelioma. In fact, only 10% of people who work near asbestos go on to develop mesothelioma, according to a study in The Ochsner Journal.
With that said, those who are exposed to asbestos regularly are more likely to develop mesothelioma or other serious illnesses later in life.
“Those who worked for many years in environments with heavy exposure, like shipyards or insulation manufacturing, are among the most likely to develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.”
Only asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma. If you were diagnosed, you were exposed at some point, even if you don’t remember when, where, or how.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, every second counts. Download our Free Asbestos Guide to learn everything you can about the products that contain asbestos and find out if you or a loved one was exposed.
Why Doesn’t Asbestos Exposure Always Cause Mesothelioma?
While asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, not everyone who’s exposed will be diagnosed with this cancer. There isn’t a specific threshold or amount of exposure that guarantees someone develops mesothelioma.
With that said, certain mesothelioma risk factors may make some people more vulnerable after exposure.
Potential mesothelioma risk factors include:
- Age and lifestyle: Most mesothelioma patients are older men who worked around asbestos decades earlier. Your age, diet, gender, and overall health can play a role in the odds of developing mesothelioma.
- Genetic mutations: A mutation in the BAP1 gene could increase the odds of developing mesothelioma, but only after being exposed to asbestos. BAP1 mutations alone don’t cause cancer.
- Nontraditional exposures: Outside of the workplace, some people have gotten sick with mesothelioma from being exposed in schools, through home renovations, or in other buildings containing asbestos products.
- Secondhand exposure to asbestos: Family members could come into contact with asbestos if their loved one brought fibers home on their clothes, leading to mesothelioma later in life.
Additionally, those exposed to asbestos could develop other illnesses besides mesothelioma. These include asbestos-related lung cancer or asbestosis, which is a disease that causes the lung tissue to harden.
How Much Asbestos Exposure Is Dangerous?
Any exposure to asbestos, even in small amounts or for short durations, is considered dangerous according to OSHA.
You’re at risk of getting sick even if you’re exposed to asbestos once because the fibers are tiny but incredibly sharp. The fibers can get trapped in your body and cause long-term scarring to healthy tissues and organs, potentially leading to mesothelioma later in life.
However, the risks of mesothelioma greatly increase if you were exposed to asbestos regularly for long periods of time. For example, shipyard workers risked breathing in asbestos dust every day for years.
“As a person’s exposure to fibers increases, either by breathing more fibers or by breathing fibers for a longer time, that person’s risk of disease also increases. This is defined as the dose-response relationship.”
– University of Chicago
How to Know If You Have Mesothelioma After Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma has a long latency period, taking 10-50 years or more to develop following asbestos exposure. Additionally, most patients don’t experience significant symptoms until after the cancer has spread.
For these reasons, early detection is the best way to know if you have mesothelioma following asbestos exposure.
Here’s how to stay alert about mesothelioma:
- Ask your doctor about your risks if you or a loved one was ever exposed to asbestos earlier in life (even in small amounts)
- Note any possible mesothelioma symptoms you’re experiencing, like shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood
- Request imaging scans to check for signs of past asbestos exposure, such as pleural plaques (buildups of chalky deposits on the lung lining) shown via CT scans
- Seek a second opinion from another specialist for added peace of mind
While there are no guarantees, taking precautionary steps like these could help catch mesothelioma early on, when it’s easier to treat.
If you were exposed to asbestos and are concerned about mesothelioma, we can help you find a specialist in your area. Get started with our Free Doctor Match service.
Supporting Mesothelioma Patients & Families
Anyone exposed to asbestos could be at risk of developing mesothelioma today. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with this cancer, Mesothelioma Hope is ready to offer the support your family needs.
Our team of Patient Advocates, registered nurses, and paralegals can figure out the next best steps for your case during this uncertain time.
We can help you or a loved one:
- Determine how asbestos exposure occurred
- Find top doctors and cancer centers in your area
- Pursue compensation for asbestos exposure
Call (866) 608-8933 or get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to learn more about how asbestos causes mesothelioma and what resources are available to you.
