Key Takeaways
- Asbestos exposure remains the primary established cause of mesothelioma, although the disease can occur without a known history of exposure.
- Erionite, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, is a well-documented non-asbestos risk factor linked to mesothelioma in certain communities.
- Inherited BAP1 gene variants may increase susceptibility to mesothelioma, but genetics alone is not established as a direct cause.
- Previous radiation therapy has been associated with rare cases of mesothelioma, while the proposed link with SV40 remains disputed.
- Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma may have legal options if workplace asbestos exposure contributed to their illness, depending on the circumstances and applicable law.
Asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. But there are cases where some individuals suffer from this condition without any exposure to it.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the thin layer of tissue surrounding the lungs, abdomen, and other organs of the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 2,669 new cases of mesothelioma in the US in 2022.
While asbestos remains the primary established cause of most mesothelioma cases, non-asbestos causes are uncommon. But what causes mesothelioma other than asbestos?
Let’s examine the possible causes of mesothelioma, the known risk factors, and what research says about cases without a clear history of asbestos exposure.
Why Asbestos Remains the Central Explanation
Mesothelioma is strongly linked to asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they can become trapped in the tissue lining the lungs or abdomen, known as the mesothelium. Over time, these fibers can cause damage that may lead to mesothelioma.
The long-term exposure of the fibers results in irritation, inflammation, and cellular changes and eventually can result in mesothelioma decades after the first exposure. In most cases, a mesothelioma diagnosis comes 20 to 50 years after exposure.
This long duration is most likely the main reason that mesothelioma occurs in some individuals long after their asbestos exposure took place.
What makes mesothelioma so rare is that even when a patient has suffered heavy asbestos exposure for a significant length of time, most such patients will never develop the disease.
Researchers do not understand why some heavily exposed people do not get the disease, but others who are more minimally exposed do, leading them to investigate the other factors involved.
Erionite Is the Best-Documented Non-Asbestos Cause
Among the other possible causes, erionite is the one researchers point to most often. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) identifies it as a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, another substance associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. It also has structural traits that resemble asbestos. In Cappadocia, Turkey, erionite has been linked to a well-studied group of mesothelioma cases. The fiber is present in local stone, and people use that stone to build homes.
In several of those villages, mesothelioma makes up a very large portion of deaths. Investigators also reported that erionite, not asbestos, appeared to drive the disease in those villages. While other researchers still debate how much inherited susceptibility added to the risk.
Genetics Appears to Modify Risk, Not Cause the Disease Alone
There is a growing body of research investigating the genetic factors involved in susceptibility to mesothelioma. However, there are distinctions that must be made. Some inherited genetic mutations, specifically variants of the BAP1 gene, have been shown to elevate the risk of mesothelioma in families. Scientists also believe genetics may matter in a real minority of cases.
What the studies do not support is that genetics by itself, with no asbestos or other mineral fiber exposure, has been shown to cause mesothelioma. The current view is that inherited traits can lower the amount of exposure needed in people who are more susceptible. They are not viewed as a standalone cause.
Radiation Therapy and a Contested Viral Link
Cases have also been documented where individuals developed mesothelioma as a result of earlier radiation therapy used for an unrelated cancer, most notably after lymphoma treatment.
While such cases are few and far between, there are enough cases in reports and cohort studies to have prompted researchers to treat it as a bona fide risk factor.
There is even less clarity around SV40. Several studies have suggested SV40 acts as a cofactor that increases the risk of developing mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, while other researchers have not been able to replicate those findings, and studies of people who received contaminated polio vaccines have not shown a clear increase in risk.
Workers’ Compensation Applies Regardless of Which Cause Is Involved
For workers ultimately diagnosed with mesothelioma, the practical legal question isn’t which specific factor caused the disease but whether workplace asbestos exposure was involved, since that’s what most workers’ compensation and product liability frameworks are built around.
In Ohio, asbestos-exposed workers may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. This generally limits suits against the employer. On the other hand, they can still file product liability claims against the companies linked to the exposure.
An Ohio mesothelioma workers’ compensation lawyer handling this kind of case often starts by building the work exposure history. Proof of where and when exposure happened is key for both a workers’ compensation claim and any related civil action against a responsible party.
The Practical Reality
Even with ongoing research into erionite, genetics, radiation, and SV40, asbestos is still the cause most commonly linked to mesothelioma.
Researchers also recognize that genetic susceptibility, radiation therapy, and mineral fiber exposure can contribute to some cases of the disease, though even those cases most easily understood as asbestos-related aren’t perfectly understood. This makes research into genetic predisposition, radiation, and other mineral fiber exposure still very relevant.
No one with concerns regarding the symptoms of mesothelioma or any potential exposures should attempt to explain the illness themselves and should rather speak to a healthcare professional.
FAQs
Can someone develop mesothelioma without asbestos exposure?
Yes, mesothelioma can occur in people without a known history of asbestos exposure, although asbestos remains its most common established cause. Other potential factors include erionite exposure, certain inherited genetic variants, and previous radiation therapy.
What is erionite, and how is it linked to mesothelioma?
Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that has been associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma. Research in parts of Cappadocia, Turkey, has linked exposure to erionite-containing materials with unusually high rates of the disease.
Can genetics cause mesothelioma?
Inherited variants in the BAP1 gene can increase a person’s susceptibility to mesothelioma and other cancers. However, genetics alone is not established as a sufficient cause of mesothelioma, and researchers continue to investigate how inherited risk interacts with environmental exposures.
Can radiation therapy or SV40 cause mesothelioma?
Rare cases of mesothelioma have been associated with previous radiation therapy, including treatment for certain other cancers. The proposed connection between simian virus 40 (SV40) and mesothelioma remains controversial, with research findings that have not established a clear causal relationship.
Can workers diagnosed with mesothelioma claim compensation?
Workers whose mesothelioma is linked to occupational asbestos exposure may qualify for workers’ compensation or other legal remedies, depending on the facts and applicable laws. In Ohio, potential claims may include workers’ compensation benefits and, where legally supported, product liability actions against companies responsible for asbestos-containing products.