Causes of Mesothelioma

Who Gets Mesothelioma?

The overwhelming majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by exposure to asbestos. Microscopic asbestos fibers are either inhaled or ingested. They lodge in the lung or other organs and persist for decades. The body works to break down or expel the fibers, creating inflammation and scarring that eventually leads to disease.

Primary and Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure on the job is the primary risk factor for mesothelioma. The family members of asbestos workers can also develop mesothelioma from secondary asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers brought home on workers' clothing can be inhaled or swallowed and cause mesothelioma.

Levels of Exposure

Mesothelioma, the most serious asbestos-related diagnosis, frequently occurs in people who have had limited exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Just working a summer as an insulator or pipe fitter is enough to cause mesothelioma decades in the future.

Those exposed to asbestos for at least five years tend to be diagnosed with asbestosis. People exposed to asbestos for many years are at greater risk of developing lung cancer, rather than mesothelioma.

At Risk Occupations

Miners, power plant workers, insulation workers, pipe fitters, railroad workers, ship builders, gas mask makers, members of the military, auto mechanics, and construction workers are among the many workers who were possibly exposed to asbestos on the job. Following is a partial listing of occupations that may have involved exposure to asbestos:

• Asbestos Workers
• Auto Mechanics
• Boilermakers
• Boiler Tenders
• Bricklayers
• Carpenters
• Checkers
• Cranemen
• Diesel Operators
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Expediters
• Grinders
• Helpers
• Hood Operators
• Hookers
• Inspectors
• Insulators
• Iron Workers
• Laborers
• Linemen
• Machinists
• Markers
• Mechanics
• Millwrights
• Motor Inspector
• Patchers
• Pipefitters
• Planners
• Repairmen
• Scarfer
• Steamfitters
• Steelworkers
• Tressel Men
• Local 449 Steamfitters
• Local 2 Asbestos Workers
• Local 13 Iron Workers
• USWA

If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, please contact an attorney at Savinis, D'Amico & Kane. We offer a free consultation about your legal rights and options. Our lawyers help people harmed by asbestos recover financial compensation for their injuries and other damages. We also represent the family members of those who died of mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.

From our offices in Pittsburgh, we represent people with mesothelioma from throughout Western Pennsylvania and across the nation.