Asbestos exposure typically happens in occupation spaces, but it can also come from primary and secondary exposure in homes, construction sites, schools, and other public buildings.
The occupational spaces most frequently linked to asbestos exposure are asbestos mines, auto body dealers and shops, demolition and construction sites, insulation installation, firefighters, and machinery-heavy workspaces. Secondhand exposure to asbestos can also happen when someone comes into contact with clothes or other materials covered in tiny asbestos particles.
Common household items have also been found to contain asbestos including talcum powders, potting soil, and paint.
While most household items are no longer legally allowed to contain asbestos, there are some instances in which asbestos still exists within those products.
How Does Asbestos Exposure Cause Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is usually caused by a person inhaling asbestos fibers that become lodged into the lungs, heart, or abdomen. These fibers cause harmful inflammation that develops into mesothelioma tumors. The three common cancers that result from asbestos exposure are peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen, pleural mesothelioma in the lungs, and pericardial mesothelioma in the heart.
Most medical researchers have concurred that asbestos exposure can damage DNA both directly and indirectly. Asbestos directly interferes with the mitosis process during cell division, causing cellular damage and mutations. Indirectly, asbestos exposure can cause mesothelial cells to create mutagenic reactive oxygen and nitrogen which also causes mutations at the cellular level.
