The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos. About 80% of mesothelioma patients were exposed to asbestos in the past. Malignant mesothelioma develops when inhaled asbestos fibers cause irreversible inflammation, scarring and cell damage.

How Do You Get Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The asbestos fibers can travel into the lungs or abdomen and lodge in the mesothelium, a protective membrane that covers the organs. Mesothelioma occurs as a result of damage to cells and DNA, causing tumors to develop decades after asbestos exposure.
When asbestos fibers travel to different parts of the body, it results in different types of mesothelioma. For example, pleural mesothelioma is caused when fibers get stuck in the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. The peritoneal type is caused when fibers are deposited in the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Mesothelioma was virtually unknown until the 20th century. Mesothelioma incidence rates rose as industries expanded the use of asbestos.
For More: https://asbestos.com/mesothelioma/causes/