The main function of the cells of the mesothelium is to produce a lubricating fluid which facilitates organs to move around easily within the body cavities e.g. - during breathing the fluid makes it easier for the lung move freely inside the chest wall.Now as we know what a mesothelium is let us get back to our topic MESOTHELIOMA

.Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium caused by asbestos exposure. It develops when cells of the mesothelium begin to grow and divide continuously without control. Although rare, it is the most frequent form of cancer seen in people exposed to asbestosis.

Historical facts about asbestos and mesothelioma:

The use of asbestos by humans date back as far as the industrial age. The ancient Egyptians used asbestos fibers to cover the bodies of their deceased pharaohs. During the time of the Roman Empire, asbestos was used to create “everlasting wicks” which was used in oil burning lamps.

On rare instances people who were working with asbestos suffered from a sickness which was known as the “Crab Sickness”. The first person to identify this disease was Hippocrates the father of modern medicine.

The recognition of mesothelioma as a tumor of the mesotheliun dates back far as the 1700’s. However association of the disease with asbestos exposure came to light much later (in 1930s) when a person called J.C.Wagner described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa.

Although the link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma had been established in the late 1930s, it was used widely throughout the country until late 1970s when for the first time the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces was banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos.

Some interesting facts about mesothelioma:

1. The occurrence of malignant mesothelioma varies from one country to another with the highest number of cases reported in Australia, Belgium and Great Britain. The annual incidence rate in these countries is at around 30 per 1,000,000 population
2. In 2004 the incidence of malignant mesothelioma in the US was 15 per 1,000,000 population.
3. Each year around 2000-3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States alone.
4. Although the occurrence of the disease increased from 1970-1990 and then stabilized, the incidence has decreased in recent times. But in Europe the prevalence of mesothelioma is still on the rise.
5. The possibility of getting mesothelioma increases with age.
6. It is uncommon in people under the age 55 years and 75% of mesothelioma patients are over 65 years of age.
7. Mesothelioma can be seen in men 5 times more often than in women.
8. The incidence rate in men for mesothelioma is dropping possibly due to less exposure at work, but in women the rate remains stable.
9. It is less common in African Americans than in white Americans.
10. The highest mortality rate due to malignant mesothelioma was recorded from Alaska and Maine.