Secondhand Asbestos Exposure

Secondhand asbestos exposure, also known as secondary asbestos exposure or take-home exposure, refers to the indirect exposure to asbestos fibers that occurs outside of the workplace. This exposure typically happens when someone who works directly with or around asbestos unintentionally carries fibers home on contaminated clothing, shoes, tools, skin, or hair.

Once inside the home or vehicle, these asbestos fibers can linger on surfaces, become airborne, and be inhaled by others. Sadly, this often means that family members with no direct exposure of their own can still inhale these fibers. This type of exposure is particularly dangerous because of how easily the fibers are transferred and how long they can remain in the air or embedded in fabric and furniture.

Commonly used terms for secondhand asbestos exposure include:

• Take-home exposure
• Household asbestos exposure
• Domestic exposure
• Bystander exposure
• Secondary asbestos exposure

Unlike environmental exposure, which may come from living near an asbestos mine or using contaminated materials, secondhand exposure almost always originates from a worker’s contact with asbestos on the job. Families may be exposed for years without realizing the risk until someone is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease.

How do asbestos fibers spread?

Workers in high-risk trades often returned home with asbestos dust on clothes, shoes, and even in their vehicles. And while family members are the most commonly affected group, they aren’t alone. Anyone who has repeated contact with contaminated clothing or shared spaces could be affected. Even commuting together in the same car could be enough to trigger exposure.

Secondhand asbestos exposure can lead to the same mesothelioma seen in workers who directly handled asbestos. This illness often develops 20 to 50+ years after initial exposure, making it difficult to trace without knowledgeable medical and legal help.

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs or abdomen, known as the pleura or peritoneum. Pleural mesothelioma has been strongly linked to even minimal exposure to asbestos fibers, including take-home exposure. 

It’s estimated that 30% of mesothelioma cases in the United States result from secondhand exposure. These cases first appeared in litigation during the 1980s, as more families began linking diagnoses to exposures at home.

Researchers have since found asbestos fibers in the homes of workers in construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing. In some cases, air samples from the homes of these workers contained fiber levels similar to those found on job sites.

While all three forms of exposure can lead to mesothelioma, the route and context of exposure vary significantly.

• Occupational exposure happens when a person is directly exposed to asbestos at their job. This is typically in industries like construction, auto repair, shipbuilding or insulation work.
• Environmental asbestos exposure occurs when asbestos is present in homes, schools, or buildings. This type of exposure may happen in communities near mines or processing plants. It can also involve household asbestos exposure from deteriorating insulation or flooring materials.
• Secondhand exposure involves indirect contact. It happens when someone who works with or around asbestos unknowingly transfers fibers, causing household asbestos exposure.

In many cases, yes. People who develop mesothelioma caused by asbestos secondary exposure from family members may qualify for legal compensation through several avenues:

• Personal injury lawsuits: Victims can sue the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products or employers who failed to warn about secondhand risks.
• Asbestos bankruptcy trust claims: Some companies that used asbestos have set up trust funds for future victims as part of their bankruptcy proceedings.

To bring a successful case, plaintiffs typically need a confirmed medical diagnosis, documentation of the original worker’s occupation and asbestos exposure, and evidence that fibers were transported into the home.

Motley Rice has represented individuals and families nationwide in complex asbestos cases, including those involving secondhand asbestos exposure. Our legal team understands how to trace sources of exposure from decades past and identify the manufacturers or employers who may be liable.

Read more on our asbestos litigation experience.