Asbestos ExposureINDEX...HOME Good Sites Approximately 8 million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Family members who have been exposed through residual asbestos dust from work clothing are also at risk. The risk of developing lung cancer is five times greater for those exposed to asbestos. For those who smoke and have had exposure to asbestos, the chance of developing mesothelioma is 55 times greater than normal. Studies show that mesothelioma is three times more common in men than women, but this is thought to be due to asbestos exposure and not gender. Of men with mesothelioma, a case series study showed that 45% had a history of exposure to asbestos and 53% had occupational exposure to asbestos. Most of the men were railroad workers, construction workers, naval mechanics and automobile mechanics. Malignant mesothelioma has a peak incidence about 40 years after asbestos exposure, and it commonly develops when a person is between 50 and 70 years of age. |