We as people often expose ourselves to things which cause cancer. We consume foods and cigarettes which put us at risk for contracting cancer. In the interest of vanity people also expose themselves to harmful ultraviolet rays. According to various health agencies, skin cancer is on the rise and the FDA is proposing the idea of banning teenagers from using tanning beds in the effort to decrease the number of skin cancer cases in young adults. This may eliminate some cases but prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays can also cause cancer.
There are a large number of environmental factors which cause cancer in people. Pollution and cigarette smoking are environmental factors which can cause lung cancer, the leading killer of cancer patients. One type of lung cancer caused by an environmental factor is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has a high mortality rate and affects the lining of crucial internal organs like the lungs and heart. Prolonged exposure to asbestos is a direct cause of mesothelioma.
Asbestos is a dangerous environmental factor that was frequently used in the construction industries throughout the twentieth century. Once asbestos was linked to mesothelioma its use was prohibited but is still present in many buildings so those who work in renovation industries risk exposure. Spouses of shipyard and construction workers are also at risk for contraction of mesothelioma. Though mesothelioma is rarer than other types of lung cancers it takes thousands of lives every year.
