Mesothelioma - What Causes Mesothelioma Other Than Asbestos? Asbestos exposure is the sole known cause of mesothelioma. It affects the lung's lining (pleural mesothelioma) as well as the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Other risk factors are radiation treatment for cancer genetics, as well as minerals that