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 While direct exposure to asbestos is overwhelming the most frequent cause mesothelioma there are several other risk factors that may also increase a person’s chances of developing mesothelioma.
These other risk factors include: - Living with someone who has been directly exposed to asbestos. Living with a person who works with asbestos can also significantly increase the likelihood that an individual with develop mesothelioma. A person who works with asbestos fibers can easily carry these fibers home on their skin or clothing exposing their loved ones to these dangerous stray fibers. There have been cases in which women have developed mesothelioma following years washing clothing that had been worn by their husbands while working with asbestos.
- Smoking greatly increases the risk that a person exposed to asbestos with develop mesothelioma.
- Some experts believe that exposure to the SV40 virus may be linked to an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. From 1955 to 1963 millions of people may have been exposed to the SV40 virus when being vaccinated for polio. After SV40 was found to be linked to certain cancers it was removed from the vaccine. More research is needed to settle the debate over SV40 and its possible link to mesothelioma.
- Some experts believe that exposure to radioactive substance thorium dioxide may lead to the development of mesothelioma. Thorium dioxide was used in conjunction with x-rays prior to the 1950’s to help better diagnose certain heath conditions. Use of the chemical was discontinued after it was discovered to cause certain forms of cancer.
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Asbestos Exposure 
