Anyone exposed to asbestos could develop pleural mesothelioma later in life. That said, those who worked with or around asbestos-containing products for long periods of time are at the highest risk.
Men were more likely to work with asbestos at their jobs than women, which makes them more likely to develop pleural mesothelioma. Up to 80% of all pleural mesothelioma patients are men, according to the medical publication Cancer Therapy Advisor.