Other Asbestos Exposure

Pericardial and peritoneal mesothelioma are also thought to be caused by asbestos exposure. Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart and peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdomen. How the asbestos fibers become imbedded in the lining of these other organs is not well understood. For those laborers who contracted these diseases, food could have become contaminated due to asbestos exposure, leading to asbestos fibers invading the abdominal lining. Asbestos fibers also may have made their way into the blood stream, either through food or inhalation, due to asbestos exposure. Once in the blood stream, these fibers could become lodged virtually anywhere in the body.