What causes mesothelioma?

Short answer: The main cause is asbestos. The National Cancer Institute says most people with mesothelioma worked or lived where they breathed in or swallowed asbestos fibers, and that living with someone who works around asbestos is also a risk factor. The disease usually takes a long time to form after exposure.

Asbestos was used for decades in building materials, insulation, brake parts, shipbuilding and textiles. IARC classifies all forms of asbestos as a known human carcinogen. Because symptoms often appear many years after exposure, people are frequently diagnosed long after they left the job where it happened.

  • Common exposure settings: construction and trades, shipyards and Navy service, power plants, refineries, auto repair and older homes or schools.
  • Secondhand exposure: family members who washed dusty work clothes.
  • Talc products: some lawsuits claim talc was contaminated with asbestos.
  • Not everyone exposed gets mesothelioma, and some people with it have no known exposure.

Read about where asbestos exposure happens, or see the mesothelioma lawsuit guide.

SourcesMesothelioma causesNational Cancer InstituteIARC talc classificationIARC, 5 Jul 2024

Checked against primary sources on November 13, 2026 by Mason Arnao. This is general information, not legal advice. Related: Who can file an asbestos lawsuit.

Deadlines usually start at diagnosis

Most states start the filing clock when mesothelioma is diagnosed, and many allow only one to three years. Asbestos trusts have their own filing rules. GAO on asbestos trusts

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Mason Arnao

About Mason Arnao

Mason David Arnao Mason David Arnao is an American entrepreneur, software engineer, and business executive based in Stuart, Florida. His career spans more than two decades in technology, automation, and lead generation systems. Arnao began his professional journey in the late 1990s as a computer technician for the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he was responsible for linking scoreboards, officials’ laptops, and stat monitors to broadcast networks. His technical precision and systems knowledge led him to join Professional Hospital Supply as a software engineer. There, he developed applications that improved data flow between medical suppliers and healthcare institutions, solidifying his foundation in enterprise-grade software development. By the early 2000's, Arnao advanced into web and SaaS infrastructure through Website Buddy LLC, a Florida-based development firm focused on building web tools for small businesses and online marketers. The experience refined his understanding of user-driven software and scalable online systems. In 2013, Arnao founded Waypoint Software, LLC, headquartered in Stuart, Florida. As President and Managing Partner, he built the company into a recognized provider of lead generation and real-time lead distribution technology. Waypoint’s software automates the acquisition, validation, and routing of consumer inquiries for marketing firms and data aggregators worldwide. The company serves hundreds of clients and is listed by the Better Business Bureau under “Sales Lead Generation.” Through Waypoint Software, Arnao has become a notable figure in the digital lead industry, combining technical engineering with automation strategy. His focus on system reliability, transparent data flow, and scalable integrations continues to position Waypoint as an industry leader in real-time lead management solutions.