Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation or exposure to asbestos fibers. The majority of people who develop mesothelioma were employed at some point in time at a place where they breathed in asbestos particles. These jobs oft include ship building, mining, milling, insulation manufacturing, factory working, etc. Family members of people who work in these types of places are at increased risk of exposure to asbestos. The risk of getting mesothelioma is directly proportional to the amount of asbestos you were exposed to and the period of time you were exposed to it. You can become exposed to asbestos fibers even if you don't work in the aforementioned places by washing the clothes of someone who works with asbestos, by home renovation using asbestos cement products, or any of these other activities that can result in asbestos exposure: fireproofing, caulking, ship building, replacing brake pads or clutch plates, and thermal pipe insulation.
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