Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma. The most common type of exposure to asbestos is through inhalation of white asbestos powder. It is estimated that more than 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the US.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that around 28 million people were exposed to asbestos exposure in the workplace between 1940 and 1970. Despite efforts to limit asbestos, workers are still exposed to it often. People can also suffer from secondary exposure.
Airborne asbestos particles are inhaled and can get lodged in a person’s respiratory tract. Over time, these particles form scar tissue, increasing the chances of a person getting mesothelioma.