Major risk factor - Asbestos

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelmia. A history of asbestos exposure exists in almost all cases. However, mesothelmia has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelmia has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelmia, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways (lung cancer, bronchial carcinoma). The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelmia have resulted. Smoking modern cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelmia.
Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelmia.