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Asbestos may be found in: |
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Insulation
Steam pipes
Boilers
Furnace ducts
Resilient floor tiles
Cement sheet
Millboard
Door gaskets in furnaces, stoves
Soundproofing material
Textured paint
Patching/joint compounds
Cement roofing
Shingles
Siding
Break pads
Clutches
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Causes
About 70 to 80 percent of malignant mesothelioma cases are highly associated with asbestos exposure. The number of months or years exposed and the nature of work are both important factors. Workers who were exposed to high concentrations of asbestos in the shipyards and in the manufacture of construction products such as insulation for the home or office were at particularly high risk. Miners, millers, and workers of heating, plumbing and other construction trades who came in contact with asbestos have also exposed their spouses and children to the asbestos fibers from their hair and clothing.
Genetic factors probably contribute to the risk of mesothelioma, because some workers who were only exposed to asbestos for a brief period later developed the disease. Conversely, some workers who were exposed to high levels for a long period of time never developed malignant mesothelioma.
More on Mesothelioma What Can Put Me at Risk for Mesothelioma?
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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