Which is the most common risk factor for mesothelioma?

• A. Cigarette smoking alone
• B. UV exposure
• C. Nickel
• D. Asbestos exposure

Answer: (D)

Asbestos exposure is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. inhaled asbestos fibers lodge in the pleura or peritoneum and cause long-term inflammation and cellular changes that can lead to malignant mesothelial transformation, often many decades after exposure. Smoking alone does not cause mesothelioma, though it markedly increases risk for other asbestos-related lung cancers, and with asbestos exposure it greatly raises the risk of bronchogenic carcinoma—not mesothelioma. UV exposure and nickel are not linked to mesothelioma, and historical high-risk occupations include shipbuilding, construction, insulation, and mining due to asbestos exposure.