What is asbestos

Definition
The occurrence of this disease, sometimes referred to as cancer of the asbestos, the fiber is the main recognized risk factor for this cancer, is not indicative of a minimum of exposure and medical treatment has an impact limited life expectancy of patients.

The initial signs found on clinical examination of chest pain are often associated with shortness of breath and recurrent pleural effusion, usually haemorrhagic. The latency between first exposure and the development of mesothelioma is seldom less than 20 years, eventually around 30 to 40 years or more. There seems to be no threshold of exposure in relation to a risk of occurrence.

It has been described cases of pleural mesothelioma occurring in the family environment close to the workers exposed to asbestos; subjects are exposed due to contamination of residential premises or during maintenance of dusty clothes.

The tobacco does not appear to increase the risk of developing mesothelioma then it is an additional risk factor for lung cancer (PBC).