MESOTHELIOMA'S CAUSE - ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

Mesothelioma Causes

Mesothelioma is most often linked to exposure to asbestos. So much of the research into this disease is based on finding out exactly how asbestos affects the normal cells of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities. If we can have a better understanding of how asbestos fibres cause cancer and how exposure to this chemical affects us, then we may be able to help prevent the disease.

Researchers know that there can be an incredibly long time lag between exposure to asbestos and developing mesothelioma. It can be 40 years or more. This probably meant that it took longer to spot the connection between asbestos and cancer than it otherwise would. But we know now, and the use of asbestos in many countries is now illegal.

There has been talk for the past few years about a link between a virus called the simian virus (SV40) and developing mesothelioma. Some polio vaccine preparations were contaminated with SV40 between 1955 and 1963 and doctors were concerned that people who'd had them may be at increased risk. One large study has indicated that these people are not at an increased risk of mesothelioma or other types of cancers. The study was published in 2003 and found that mesothelioma rates were actually falling in this group of people. The link between SV40 and mesothelioma (if there is one) is likely to be much less important that the link with asbestos.

There is some evidence that your genetic make up could affect your risk of mesothelioma. As well as asbestos, exposure to a mineral called erionite is a risk factor. Researchers in Turkey found that in families exposed to this mineral, in some families all the family members developed mesothelioma and in other families, no one developed it. They think that there is a gene in some families in Turkey that increases their risk. (This article is published in The Lancet, volume 357, issue 9254, page 444.) This could explain why some people are exposed to asbestos and do not develop mesothelioma, while others who are exposed do. There is a lot more research to be done before we will know if there are specific gene changes that can increase your risk of mesothelioma. It will be some years after this has been completed before there will be any chance of testing for such a gene.

In the past, asbestos was used widely in the

· Building industry

· Ship building industry

· Manufacture of household appliances

· Motor industry