1. Inhalation or Ingestion: When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can become trapped in the mesothelium, the thin layer of tissue lining the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testes[1][2].
2. Physical Damage: The sharp, needle-like asbestos fibers pierce and damage the mesothelial cells[2].
3. Chronic Inflammation: This damage triggers a chronic inflammatory response in the affected tissues[1][2].
4. DNA Damage: Over time, the physical properties of asbestos fibers and the chronic inflammation can cause genetic mutations in the mesothelial cells[1][2].
5. Cell Transformation: These genetic changes can lead to the transformation of normal cells into cancerous ones, eventually forming mesothelioma tumors[2].
## Factors Affecting Risk
- Dose-Response Relationship: The duration and intensity of asbestos exposure can affect a person's risk of developing mesothelioma[2].
- Latency Period: It can take 20 to 60 years or more for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure[3].
- Individual Susceptibility: Not everyone exposed to asbestos develops mesothelioma, suggesting that other factors like genetic predisposition may play a role[3].
## Types of Mesothelioma
Depending on where the asbestos fibers settle, different types of mesothelioma can develop:
- Pleural mesothelioma: Occurs when fibers embed in the outer lining of the lungs[2].
- Peritoneal mesothelioma: Develops when fibers get stuck in the abdominal cavity[2].
- Pericardial and testicular mesothelioma: Rare forms that occur when fibers embed in the lining around the heart or testes[2].
It's important to note that while asbestos is the primary cause, other factors like radiation exposure and genetic predisposition may also contribute to mesothelioma development in some cases[1][3].
Citations:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7082251/
[2] https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/causes/
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375022
[4] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/malignant-mesothelioma/causes-risks-prevention/what-causes.html
[5] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mesothelioma/risks-causes