{"id":826,"date":"2020-04-17T13:16:04","date_gmt":"2020-04-17T17:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/?page_id=826"},"modified":"2025-12-17T08:52:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:52:11","slug":"risk-factors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/mesothelioma\/risk-factors\/","title":{"rendered":"Mesothelioma Risk Factors"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>What Is the Biggest Risk Factor for Mesothelioma?<\/h2>\n<p>Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor for malignant mesothelioma. There\u2019s no <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/\">mesothelioma<\/a> without\u00a0asbestos. If you\u2019ve been diagnosed, it\u2019s almost certain you were exposed to asbestos at some point in your lifetime.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Other notable mesothelioma risk factors include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Age:<\/strong> Those 70 or older are more likely to be diagnosed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genetics:<\/strong> Gene mutations may increase mesothelioma risk after asbestos exposure.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Job history:<\/strong> Many patients worked with or around asbestos on the job.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sex:<\/strong> Most mesothelioma patients are men.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep these mesothelioma risk factors in mind if you or someone you love was ever exposed to asbestos. If you develop any possible signs of mesothelioma, such as chest pain, cough, or shortness of breath, see a doctor and let them know if you have any history of <a href=\"\/asbestos\/\">asbestos exposure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Doctors can then recommend steps to check for mesothelioma. In some cases, other patients have been diagnosed before the cancer has spread very far, giving them a better long-term health outlook.<\/p>\n<p>Get our<strong> Free Mesothelioma Guide<\/strong> to learn more about mesothelioma risk factors and steps you can take to stay on top of your health.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"1361\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque default image-right has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"default\">.widget_oscar-vque.default{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.default:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a{background:#2F293D;display:block;padding:20px;border-radius:10px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.default img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:150px;width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.default .vque-content{font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.subheading{display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.heading{font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;line-height:1.4;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:0;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.button.arrow{width:100%}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.default{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a>div{display:block;display:flex;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a>div>div{padding:0 25px 0 0;width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.default img{max-width:90%;margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 16px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0}}<\/style><a href=\"\/mesothelioma-guide\/\" title=\"Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png\"><div><div><div class=\"image-fade\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"296\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Mesothelioma Guide Images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png 296w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical-55x55.png 55w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical-102x100.png 102w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Symptoms &amp; staging<\/li>\n<li>Average prognosis<\/li>\n<li>Life-extending treatments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Guide\">Get Your Free Guide<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Asbestos and Mesothelioma Risk<\/h2>\n<p>Only asbestos causes mesothelioma. Asbestos was used for fireproofing and durability in buildings, ships, and vehicles for decades. However, handling <a href=\"\/products\/\">asbestos products<\/a> could release fibers into the air, increasing your risk of exposure.<\/p>\n<p>It takes<strong> 10-50 years or more<\/strong> for asbestos to cause mesothelioma, and there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even being exposed to asbestos just once could put you at risk. With that said, you\u2019re more likely to develop mesothelioma if you were regularly exposed to asbestos.<\/p>\n<p>Those at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma after asbestos exposure worked with or around products containing this material at their jobs or while serving in the military.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"jobs\">Occupational Asbestos Exposure<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-21144\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/manual-worker-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Laborer working in an older building\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Before the early 1980s, many different jobs relied on asbestos-containing materials. Many workers remember using asbestos products like insulation and building materials without realizing they were dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>Manufacturers of asbestos products <strong>hid the dangers<\/strong> to make huge profits. As a result, workers may have spent decades at jobs where they were exposed to asbestos every day, increasing their mesothelioma risk factor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jobs with a high risk of <a href=\"\/occupations\/\">occupational asbestos exposure<\/a> include:<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul class='columns-3'>\n<li>Automotive repair<\/li>\n<li>Carpentry<\/li>\n<li>Construction<\/li>\n<li>Electrical work<\/li>\n<li>Factory work<\/li>\n<li>Firefighting<\/li>\n<li>Mining<\/li>\n<li>Shipbuilding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\n<p>Many people who worked with asbestos decades ago are just now being diagnosed with mesothelioma since it takes 10-50 years for this cancer to form after asbestos exposure.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"military\">Military Asbestos Exposure<\/h3>\n<p>The U.S. military used tons of asbestos-containing materials in bases, ships, vehicles, and more before the risks were publicly understood. As a result, many <a href=\"\/veterans\/\">veterans are at risk of mesothelioma<\/a> today. In fact, 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients served in the U.S. military.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how you could have been exposed depending on your branch:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Air Force:<\/strong> Planes and bases relied on asbestos materials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Army:<\/strong> Asbestos was used to build bases and barracks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coast Guard:<\/strong> Hundreds of Coast Guard ships used asbestos.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marine Corps:<\/strong> Bases and ships contained asbestos.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Navy:<\/strong> Virtually every Navy ship was built with asbestos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Veterans of the <a href=\"\/veterans\/navy\/\">U.S. Navy<\/a> had the highest mesothelioma risk factor of any branch because asbestos was used aboard virtually all of this branch\u2019s ships for decades.<\/p>\n<h3>Secondary Asbestos Exposure<\/h3>\n<p>You could be at a high risk of mesothelioma indirectly through <a href=\"\/asbestos\/exposure\/secondary\/\">secondary asbestos exposure<\/a>. It occurs when those who worked with asbestos accidentally brought home fibers on clothing, hair, and skin, regularly exposing spouses, children, and other family members.<\/p>\n<div class=\"blockquote-w-image \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Julie-img.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><blockquote><p>&#8220;My father would come home from work, and I\u2019d run up and hug him. He was covered in dust from a work site. We didn\u2019t know that it included asbestos dust.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer>&ndash;<cite> Julie Gundlach, 19+ year mesothelioma survivor<\/cite><\/footer><\/blockquote><style type=\"text\/css\">.blockquote-w-image{position:relative;margin:40px auto}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{background:none;border-left:none;padding:25px;margin-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote p{margin-bottom:0}.blockquote-w-image img{width:100px;border:none;border-radius:100%;box-shadow:none;position:relative;margin:0 auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative{margin:60px auto}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding:25px 25px 25px 80px;padding-bottom:25px;background-color:#E4F4F6}.blockquote-w-image.alternative img{position:absolute;left:20px;top:25px;z-index:1;width:50px;border:1px solid #fff;box-shadow:0 0 10px rgba(34,34,34,0.2);border-radius:100%}.blockquote-w-image.with-border{background:none;border-left:4px solid #0FAEBF}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote{background:none;border-radius:0;padding:10px 25px}.blockquote-w-image.with-border blockquote footer cite{font-size:inherit}.blockquote-w-image blockquote:before{display:none}@media screen and (min-width: 769px){.blockquote-w-image img{position:absolute;left:0;top:0}.blockquote-w-image blockquote{padding:0 25px 0 125px;min-height:90px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote{padding-left:105px}.blockquote-w-image.alternative blockquote footer cite{font-size:16px}.entry-content .blockquote-w-image.alternative img{width:60px;left:25px}}<\/style><\/div>\n<p><strong>Call <a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a> now<\/strong> if you or someone you love has mesothelioma to get help pinpointing your asbestos exposure, accessing treatment, and recovering compensation for medical expenses.<\/p>\n<h2>Other Risk Factors of Mesothelioma<\/h2>\n<p>Certain factors, such as your age, sex, and family history, could potentially mean you\u2019re at a higher risk of mesothelioma following asbestos exposure. Explore common mesothelioma risk factors below.<\/p>\n<h3>Age<\/h3>\n<p>You are more likely to develop mesothelioma if you are an older person. The average age at the time of a mesothelioma diagnosis is 72, according to the Mayo Clinic.<\/p>\n<p>Mesothelioma tends to affect older people because it has a <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/latency-period\/\">long latency period<\/a>. This is the time between exposure and when symptoms of mesothelioma first appear. This cancer typically forms 10-50 years or more after someone has been exposed.<\/p>\n<h3>Sex<\/h3>\n<p>Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This is because men were more likely to serve as construction workers, shipbuilders, and in other jobs where asbestos materials were used on an everyday basis.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, more than <strong>3 in 4 mesothelioma patients<\/strong> diagnosed between 1999 and 2021 were men, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/p>\n<h3>Race<\/h3>\n<p>In the United States, most mesothelioma patients are white. In a study of nearly 13,000 patients conducted by the <em>Journal of Clinical Oncology<\/em>, 95% were white. Hispanic and Latino people are also at a higher risk, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).<\/p>\n<h3>Genetics<\/h3>\n<p>Some genetic factors do play a role in your mesothelioma risk, but <strong>only if you were exposed to asbestos.<\/strong> For example, changes in the BAP1 gene could make it easier for asbestos to harm your body and trigger mesothelioma. You can\u2019t develop mesothelioma from a genetic mutation alone, however.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/treatment\/doctors\/\">Doctors who treat mesothelioma<\/a> can look at your genetics, family asbestos exposure, and other risks to explain how they may have affected your diagnosis.<\/p>\n<h3>Environmental Asbestos Exposure<\/h3>\n<p>Living near job sites that relied on asbestos could potentially be a mesothelioma risk factor. For example, the town of Libby, Montana, was home to a major asbestos mine that operated for decades, poisoning hundreds of residents.<\/p>\n<p>With that said, the risk of mesothelioma is typically higher if you worked directly with asbestos-containing materials.<\/p>\n<h2>Does Smoking Increase Risk of Mesothelioma?<\/h2>\n<p><strong>No,<\/strong> smoking is not considered a mesothelioma risk factor. Doctors haven\u2019t found any reason to believe tobacco causes mesothelioma outright. There\u2019s also no evidence that smokers are more likely to develop this cancer than nonsmokers.<\/p>\n<p>However, you have a higher risk of <a href=\"\/cancer\/lung-cancer\/\">lung cancer<\/a> and other asbestos-related diseases if you smoked and were also exposed to asbestos. Smokers exposed to asbestos are more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than people who either just smoked or were only exposed, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).<\/p>\n<h2>Can You Lessen Mesothelioma Risk?<\/h2>\n<p>The ACS notes that there is <strong>no way to lower your risk of mesothelioma<\/strong> if you were already exposed to asbestos at some point in your life. With that said, there are some steps you can take to stay on top of your health if you know you\u2019re in danger of this cancer.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You can help manage mesothelioma risk factors by:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Getting <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/diagnosis\/screening\/\">mesothelioma screening tests<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Telling your health care team about any history of asbestos exposure<\/li>\n<li>Requesting a <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/diagnosis\/second-opinion\/\">second opinion<\/a> if you think you\u2019ve been misdiagnosed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It may also be a good idea to quit smoking. Even though smoking isn\u2019t a mesothelioma risk factor outright, it can cause other serious health issues, limit your available treatment options, and lead to complications.<\/p>\n<p>You should consider taking the steps above even if you\u2019re currently feeling healthy. <a href=\"\/mesothelioma\/symptoms\/\">Mesothelioma symptoms<\/a> take time to appear and are usually only mild at first, which means they\u2019re commonly mistaken for less serious conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Get our <strong>Free Mesothelioma Guide<\/strong> for help understanding the risks of asbestos exposure and how to access treatment and support resources.<\/p>\n<div data-vqueid=\"1361\" class=\"widget widget_oscar-vque default image-right has-img\"><style type=\"text\/css\" data-style=\"default\">.widget_oscar-vque.default{margin:60px auto;max-width:315px}.widget_oscar-vque.default:first-child{margin-top:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a{background:#2F293D;display:block;padding:20px;border-radius:10px;color:#fff;text-decoration:none}.widget_oscar-vque.default img{margin:0 auto 20px;max-width:150px;width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.default .vque-content{font-size:16px;text-align:center}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.subheading{display:block;line-height:1;font-size:14px;margin-bottom:5px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.heading{font-size:20px;display:block;margin:0 0 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul{font-size:16px;text-align:left;list-style:none;max-width:265px;line-height:1.4;margin:15px auto 25px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li{padding-left:28px;margin-bottom:10px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul li:before{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;font-display:swap;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e904\";border:none;position:absolute;left:0;top:0;background:#0FAEBF;width:20px;height:20px;border-radius:20px;line-height:20px;text-align:center;font-size:12px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.button.arrow{width:100%}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.widget_oscar-vque.default{max-width:620px}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a{padding:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a>div{display:block;display:flex;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;flex-direction:row-reverse}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a>div>div{padding:0 25px 0 0;width:41%}.widget_oscar-vque.default>a .vque-content{width:59%;padding:30px;text-align:left}.widget_oscar-vque.default img{max-width:90%;margin-bottom:0}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.subheading{font-size:16px}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.heading{font-size:24px;margin:0 0 16px}.widget_oscar-vque.default ul{max-width:none}.widget_oscar-vque.default strong.button.arrow{width:auto}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div{display:block;position:relative;overflow:hidden}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div img{max-width:100%}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div{float:left}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div:first-child{width:27%;padding:30px}.widget_oscar-vque.default.image-left>a>div>div.vque-content{width:73%;padding-left:0}}<\/style><a href=\"\/mesothelioma-guide\/\" title=\"Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide\" class=\"cte\" data-ce-category=\"In-Content Ads\" data-ce-label=\"Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide Ad\" data-desktop-image=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png\"><div><div><div class=\"image-fade\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"296\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png\" class=\"attachment-Medium size-Medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Mesothelioma Guide Images\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical.png 296w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical-55x55.png 55w, https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/guide-image-vertical-102x100.png 102w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 296px) 100vw, 296px\" \/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vque-content\"><strong class=\"heading\">Get Your Free 2026 Mesothelioma Guide<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Symptoms &amp; staging<\/li>\n<li>Average prognosis<\/li>\n<li>Life-extending treatments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"button arrow\" title=\"Get Your Free Guide\">Get Your Free Guide<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Managing Your Mesothelioma Risk Factors<\/h2>\n<p>Anyone can develop mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos. If you or someone you love has potential mesothelioma risk factors, it is crucial to stay on top of your health moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Mesothelioma Hope has helped thousands of families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. We\u2019re ready to assist you every step of the way, too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Work with our team to:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find doctors who can assess your cancer risk<\/li>\n<li>Get mesothelioma screening tests<\/li>\n<li>Start treatment if needed<\/li>\n<li>Pursue compensation for your expenses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Call <a href=\"tel:+18666088933\" title=\"Click to call (866) 608-8933\" class=\"in-content-tel-link\" data-ce-category=\"Click to Call\" data-ce-label=\"(866) 608-8933\">(866) 608-8933<\/a> or <a href=\"\/mesothelioma-guide\/\">get our Free Mesothelioma Guide now<\/a> to learn what steps you can take to move forward.<\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-wrap\"><h2 class=\"faq-wrap-heading\">Risk Factors for Mesothelioma FAQs<\/h2><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"1\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">Who most commonly gets mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>Mesothelioma typically affects those who were routinely exposed to asbestos. Older men usually have the highest mesothelioma risk factor. This is because the cancer forms decades after exposure, and many men regularly worked with or around asbestos in jobs like construction, shipbuilding, or military service.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"2\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">What is the average age for mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>The average age of a mesothelioma patient is 72 years old, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Mesothelioma is more common in older adults since it takes 10-50 years to develop after someone is exposed to asbestos.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"3\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">How likely are you to develop mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p>Generally speaking, the odds of developing mesothelioma are low if you\u2019ve never been exposed to asbestos, which is the only proven cause of the cancer. Older, white men who were regularly exposed to asbestos on the job are the highest risk group for mesothelioma.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/about\/contact\/\">Contact us now<\/a> if you or someone you love is facing a mesothelioma diagnosis. We may be able to help you find a top cancer center, schedule treatments, and seek financial compensation to pay for your medical care.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"4\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">What are some childhood mesothelioma risk factors?<\/h3><div><p>It\u2019s incredibly rare for children or teens to develop mesothelioma, but it has happened. The biggest risk factor for childhood mesothelioma is long-term asbestos exposure at a very young age.<\/p>\n<p>Children exposed typically don&#8217;t get sick until adulthood, though, since the cancer takes decades to develop. For example, <a href=\"\/blog\/john-panza-music-and-surviving-mesothelioma\/\">John Panza<\/a> was diagnosed with mesothelioma at just 38 years old as a result of secondary exposure through his father.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy dad more or less drove around a plant all day picking up asbestos fibers, and that\u2019s what he did every day, 5 days a week, for over 20 years,\u201d John remembers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"5\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">Is radiation a risk factor for mesothelioma?<\/h3><div><p><strong>No,<\/strong> radiation is not considered a mesothelioma risk factor. Overwhelming evidence shows that asbestos causes mesothelioma, not radiation.<\/p>\n<p>Doctors can give you a better idea about potential risk factors of mesothelioma and how to stay on top of your health.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"faq\" data-faq=\"6\"><h3 class=\"faq-heading\">Are there other possible causes of mesothelioma besides asbestos?<\/h3><div><p><strong>No,<\/strong> asbestos is the sole cause of mesothelioma. \u201cIf there&#8217;s no asbestos, there&#8217;s no mesothelioma. It&#8217;s that simple,\u201d says Dr. Raja Flores, a mesothelioma specialist. \u201cIf you have mesothelioma, and you say, \u2018Well, I&#8217;ve never been exposed to asbestos,\u2019 you were exposed to it. You just don&#8217;t know where, and you don&#8217;t know when.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You may hear about other possible causes like simian virus 40 (SV40) or materials like zeolite and erionite. However, there\u2019s very little evidence to support these as legitimate mesothelioma risk factors. In fact, SV40 has been proven not to cause mesothelioma, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"Who most commonly gets mesothelioma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;Mesothelioma typically affects those who were routinely exposed to asbestos. Older men usually have the highest mesothelioma risk factor. This is because the cancer forms decades after exposure, and many men regularly worked with or around asbestos in jobs like construction, shipbuilding, or military service.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"What is the average age for mesothelioma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;The average age of a mesothelioma patient is 72 years old, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Mesothelioma is more common in older adults since it takes 10-50 years to develop after someone is exposed to asbestos.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"How likely are you to develop mesothelioma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;Generally speaking, the odds of developing mesothelioma are low if you\u2019ve never been exposed to asbestos, which is the only proven cause of the cancer. Older, white men who were regularly exposed to asbestos on the job are the highest risk group for mesothelioma.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Contact us now if you or someone you love is facing a mesothelioma diagnosis. We may be able to help you find a top cancer center, schedule treatments, and seek financial compensation to pay for your medical care.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"What are some childhood mesothelioma risk factors?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;It\u2019s incredibly rare for children or teens to develop mesothelioma, but it has happened. The biggest risk factor for childhood mesothelioma is long-term asbestos exposure at a very young age.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Children exposed typically don&amp;#8217;t get sick until adulthood, though, since the cancer takes decades to develop. For example, John Panza was diagnosed with mesothelioma at just 38 years old as a result of secondary exposure through his father.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;\u201cMy dad more or less drove around a plant all day picking up asbestos fibers, and that\u2019s what he did every day, 5 days a week, for over 20 years,\u201d John remembers.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"Is radiation a risk factor for mesothelioma?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No,&lt;\/strong&gt; radiation is not considered a mesothelioma risk factor. Overwhelming evidence shows that asbestos causes mesothelioma, not radiation.&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;Doctors can give you a better idea about potential risk factors of mesothelioma and how to stay on top of your health.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}},{\"@type\": \"Question\",\"name\": \"Are there other possible causes of mesothelioma besides asbestos?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\": \"Answer\",\"text\": \"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;No,&lt;\/strong&gt; asbestos is the sole cause of mesothelioma. \u201cIf there&amp;#8217;s no asbestos, there&amp;#8217;s no mesothelioma. It&amp;#8217;s that simple,\u201d says Dr. Raja Flores, a mesothelioma specialist. \u201cIf you have mesothelioma, and you say, \u2018Well, I&amp;#8217;ve never been exposed to asbestos,\u2019 you were exposed to it. You just don&amp;#8217;t know where, and you don&amp;#8217;t know when.\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;\n&lt;p&gt;You may hear about other possible causes like simian virus 40 (SV40) or materials like zeolite and erionite. However, there\u2019s very little evidence to support these as legitimate mesothelioma risk factors. In fact, SV40 has been proven not to cause mesothelioma, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).&lt;\/p&gt;\n\"}}]}<\/script><style type=\"text\/css\">.faq-wrap{background:#E4F4F6;padding:20px 15px;margin:40px -15px}.faq-wrap:first-child{margin-top:0}.faq-wrap:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.faq-wrap .faq{background:#fff;padding:15px;border-radius:10px;box-shadow:0px 20px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.03);margin:15px 0 0 0}.faq-wrap .faq:first-child{margin-top:0}.faq-wrap .faq .faq-heading{color:#100134;font-size:21px;margin-bottom:15px}.faq-wrap .faq p{margin-bottom:20px;line-height:1.5}.faq-wrap .faq p:last-child{margin-bottom:0}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more{color:#248AFF;display:block;padding-right:17px;text-align:right;position:relative;line-height:1}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:visited{color:#248AFF}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:visited:hover,.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:hover{color:#34d}.faq-wrap .faq .learn-more:after{font-family:\"mesohope\" !important;speak:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-variant:normal;text-transform:none;line-height:1;-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;content:\"\\e905\";position:absolute;right:0;top:3px}h2.faq-wrap-heading{margin-bottom:25px}@media screen and (min-width: 768px){.faq-wrap{padding:25px 15px}}@media screen and (min-width: 1024px){.faq-wrap{border-radius:10px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:25px}.faq-wrap .faq{padding:25px}.faq-heading{font-size:24px}}<\/style><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Is the Biggest Risk Factor for Mesothelioma? Asbestos exposure is the biggest risk factor for malignant mesothelioma. There\u2019s no mesothelioma without\u00a0asbestos. If you\u2019ve been diagnosed, it\u2019s almost certain you were exposed to asbestos at some point in your lifetime. Other notable mesothelioma risk factors include: Age: Those 70 or older are more likely to&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":0,"parent":17,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-826","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/826\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/17"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mesotheliomahope.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}