ABSTRACT
Asbestos is the predominant cause of mesothelioma, exposure to other elements that also induce cell necrosis, inflammation, proliferation, or DNA damage, such as ionizing radiation, particularly in conjunction with asbestos exposure, may contribute to the development of mesothelioma. The data from the medical literature have showed that other nonfibrous materials have been associated with mesothelioma production, such as nickel and beryllium. Any cause of chronic chest or abdominal serosal inflammation, such as tuberculosis or familial Mediterranean fever, may cause a mesothelioma. Italian investigators studied the occurrence of mesothelioma among blood relatives of confirmed mesothelioma cases. The identification of the threshold length for nanofiber-induced pathogenicity in the pleura has important implications for understanding the structure–toxicity relationship for asbestos-induced mesothelioma and consequent risk assessment. The role of diet in the causation of mesothelioma is unclear, but acrylamide, a water-soluble contaminant in baked and fried starchy foods, has recently been found to cause mesothelioma in male rats.
