Mesothelioma Risk: Jobs with High Asbestos Exposure

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/03/25 - Updated: 2025/03/22
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Mesothelioma - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article provides valuable information on occupations at high risk for mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It outlines various professions where workers may have encountered asbestos, including construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. The content is particularly useful for individuals who have worked in these industries, as well as their families, offering insights into potential health risks and the importance of early detection. By raising awareness about occupational hazards, this article serves as a crucial resource for workers, healthcare professionals, and advocates for workplace safety - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that can be either malignant or benign. The malignant type of mesothelioma is the most hazardous form of cancer and may be deadly in most cases. This cancer affects the tissue mesothelium, which protects the heart, stomach, lungs, and other organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move.

Main Content

Causes of Mesothelioma

Almost always this type of cancer is caused by previous exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a kind of fiber present in insulation and building substances because of its resistance to heat, chemical damage, and electricity and is naked to the human eye. It is unclear how long the correlation between asbestos and mesothelioma has been known, but researchers have found some correlation between the two as recently as the 1960s.

Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer where early diagnosis increases the amount of effective treatments. Unfortunately, due to the way it forms, the cancer may not manifest until anywhere between 20 to 50 years after an asbestos exposure. Regardless of when the asbestos exposure occurred, it is important to tell your doctor so that the correct diagnosis can be made.

Occupations At Risk

Exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers has caused the development of cancer in a variety of different employees and occupations over the years. The fibers, once inhaled or ingested, begin to scar the tissue inside of the body. 70 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases reported were because of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Because it takes anywhere between 20 to 50 years to manifest, occupations held in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and even into the 1970s may cause mesothelioma in lives today.

Such occupations may include:

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point in their life because there are low levels found in the air, water, and soil. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases typically manifest after a lengthy exposure, but in some cases a short intense exposure could cause a person to develop mesothelioma. For example, survivors, first responders, and those nearby at the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center may also be at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses. These include firefighters, policeman, volunteers, paramedics, construction workers, and nearby residents.

Asbestos exposure that may lead to mesothelioma could also occur in non occupational exposure. Although the occurrence of mesothelioma is three times more common in men than women, some cases have been found in women and children whose exposure has been through contact with the clothing of those who worked with asbestos.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.