Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Anyone who works with or around asbestos may unknowingly carry asbestos fibers home on their clothes, skin, hair, or belongings when they leave their job. This can put their family members at risk of secondary asbestos exposure.
Being exposed to asbestos secondhand can be just as harmful as direct exposure. Sadly, many victims develop health issues like mesothelioma — even if they’ve never worked around asbestos themselves.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we can help families across the country seek compensation for illnesses caused by asbestos. Call (800) 326-8900 now.
Medically Reviewed and Fact Checked by: Amy Fair R.N., Director of Medical Relations
What Is Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when someone is exposed to asbestos fibers indirectly, often through contact with a person who works with the dangerous mineral.
When asbestos products are disturbed, they can release fibers that may cling to workers’ bodies, tools, or personal items. Workers may then unknowingly expose their loved ones or coworkers to these fibers.
Common ways secondary exposure happens include:
- Cleaning a house where asbestos dust is present
- Hugging someone after work before they’ve changed their clothes
- Sharing tools or a vehicle
- Washing contaminated work clothes
Those who are exposed to asbestos secondhand may develop serious illnesses like mesothelioma. Symptoms of this cancer can take 10-50 years to appear after exposure.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we’ve secured over $10.2 billion for clients impacted by asbestos exposure, helping them pay for medical bills, lost wages, and more. Contact us now to see if we can fight for your family.
- We fight to maximize your results
- Many get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for your family
Who’s at Risk of Asbestos Secondary Exposure?
Certain jobs had a higher likelihood of asbestos exposure. Construction workers, mechanics, military personnel, and others in high-risk occupations where asbestos was once commonly used unknowingly put themselves and their loved ones at risk.
Secondary asbestos exposure often affects those closest to workers who regularly handle or are exposed to asbestos, like their:
- Spouse
- Children
- Immediate family members
- Roommates
Simple activities like hugging a loved one after they return home from work or washing their clothes can significantly increase the risk of secondary asbestos exposure.
“The most common activity attributed to para-occupational exposure is laundering of the contaminated clothes from workers.”
– Annals of Translational Medicine
Other workers near those who handle asbestos may also be at risk. Asbestos fibers can cling to tools, work vehicles, and equipment, potentially exposing those in shared environments.
Mesothelioma & Secondhand Exposure to Asbestos
Historically, men were more likely to work in blue-collar industries where asbestos was commonly used, while women were more likely to experience secondhand asbestos exposure through their husbands or fathers.
Being married to someone who was exposed to asbestos at work is the single greatest risk factor for developing mesothelioma outside of direct exposure, according to the Annals of Work Exposures and Health.
Research has shown that anyone exposed to asbestos secondhand before the age of 30 is twice as likely to develop mesothelioma compared to those who were not exposed.
Only 31% of male patients report any form of secondary asbestos exposure, while 67% of female patients do, according to KCIC.
Anyone diagnosed with this cancer, whether their asbestos exposure was direct or secondhand, may be eligible for mesothelioma compensation for their illness.
“My practice is primarily focused on representing people who have been injured or harmed by companies that manufactured, made, or sold asbestos products. Right now, we’re increasingly representing women my age, moms who have kids the same age as my kids.”
– Jennifer Alesio, Firm Partner
Legal Options for Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Many companies knew asbestos was dangerous. However, they hid the risks from the public to protect their profits. As a result, these companies can be held accountable for illnesses caused by their products.
Courts have also ruled that companies had a responsibility to try and prevent deadly asbestos dust from reaching workers’ homes.
Find out about the types of mesothelioma claims available to families affected by secondary asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
An estimated $30 Billion is still available in asbestos trust funds for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos companies that declare bankruptcy may be required to set money aside in a trust fund to provide compensation for future victims of their products.
Many families qualify for compensation from multiple trusts, and you don’t have to go to court to file a claim.
“I don’t think people quite understand how those trust funds are put together. The money is there. It has been put there to meet the needs of mesothelioma families and to pay them. Don’t feel guilty about it.”
– Sheryl, Daughter of Secondhand Exposure Victim Burlene
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed by patients or their loved ones against companies that made, sold, or distributed asbestos-containing products.
Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit has helped many families secure significant compensation after a diagnosis.
Some of our past mesothelioma settlements and verdicts include:
- $15 million to a victim of secondhand asbestos exposure
- $7.1 million for the family of a nurse who was exposed to asbestos secondhand
- $6.2 million to a woman who was exposed to asbestos through her husband’s job
- $4.4 million for the family of an Illinois woman who died from secondary asbestos exposure
- $1.61 million to a stay-at-home mom with pleural mesothelioma from her husband’s job at a paper mill
- $2.37 million for a Washington client who was exposed to asbestos secondhand
- $5.1 million for a Missouri woman exposed to asbestos secondhand
- $2.5 million to a woman who passed away from secondhand exposure linked to her father’s work as a carpenter on submarines
- $11.93 million to a secondhand exposure victim with peritoneal mesothelioma in New York
While results will vary based on the specific details of each case, our firm will fight for the most money possible from your secondhand asbestos exposure lawsuit.
Veterans Benefits from the VA
Veterans with mesothelioma may be eligible for additional compensation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Asbestos was widely used by all branches of the military, putting service members at significant risk of both direct and secondhand exposure.
The VA awards mesothelioma a 100% disability rating, which can provide veterans with monthly compensation worth over $3,800 and free health care.
The family members of veterans who lived on base during their service may also have been at risk of secondary asbestos exposure.
- We fight to maximize your results
- Many get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for your family
Secondary Asbestos Exposure Cases: Hear from Our Clients
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, our mesothelioma lawyers have helped over 6,000 families take legal action for asbestos exposure — including many clients who were exposed to asbestos secondhand.
Find out more about some of the secondary asbestos exposure cases we’ve handled.
Julie’s Story of Secondhand Exposure
Julie Gundlach was first exposed to asbestos when she was just a child. Her dad worked as a commercial electrician in St. Louis during the 1970s, when asbestos was still widely used in the facilities he serviced.
“My father would come home from work, and I’d run up and hug him. He was covered in dust from a worksite. We didn’t know that that included asbestos dust.”
– Julie, Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor
Julie’s mother would wash her father’s work clothes in the laundry room, which also served as Julie’s playroom at the time. “When she shook out the dust, she had no idea she was spreading asbestos fibers throughout our house,” said Julie.
In 2006, Julie was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at just 35 years old. She worked with our asbestos lawyers to secure compensation for treatments that allowed her to become a long-term mesothelioma survivor and watch her young daughter grow up.
Larry’s Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Larry Davis grew up in Connecticut during the 1940s. His dad passed away when he was relatively young, and Larry was told his cause of death was emphysema caused by smoking.
Determined to prioritize his health, Larry became an avid runner and focused on fitness throughout his life. However, at the age of 61, Larry was diagnosed with mesothelioma.
As he learned about the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma, Larry recalled how his dad would often come home from working at a paper company covered in asbestos. “I was exposed from the time I was a baby,” he said.
Larry began to question whether his father’s emphysema diagnosis could have been undiagnosed mesothelioma caused by nearly 40 years of working around asbestos.
He also spent his remaining 6 years advocating for a complete ban on asbestos and educating others about the dangers of primary and secondary asbestos exposure. His work left a lasting legacy, helping to protect future generations from asbestos.
- We fight to maximize your results
- Many get results in as few as 90 days
- No out-of-pocket costs for your family
How Do I Know If I Was Exposed to Asbestos Secondhand?
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. If you have this cancer, you were likely exposed to asbestos, even if you don’t know how.
For many patients who lived with someone who worked with or around asbestos, it can be difficult to figure out what happened, especially since the cancer takes decades to develop.
Our firm has the resources to determine how you were exposed to asbestos:
- 16 full-time case investigators, including former police officers
- An in-house medical department led by registered nurses
- Professional technical support for document management and trial preparation
- A Research and Discovery Department comprised of veteran attorneys and Ph.D. researchers
- A robust national network of medical and safety experts
- Warehouses of evidence on asbestos companies, job sites, and products
We can review your work and family history to pinpoint the asbestos products you may have been exposed to — and which companies are responsible for your illness.
With over 25 years of experience battling the asbestos industry, our mesothelioma lawyers and on-staff investigators have what it takes to fight for the justice you deserve.
Preventing Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
While the use of asbestos has significantly declined since the 1980s, this mineral may still be present in older vehicles, buildings, and equipment. As a result, it’s important to take precautions to reduce the risk of secondhand asbestos exposure.
If you or a loved one works around asbestos, be sure to:
- Always wear personal protective equipment at work
- Avoid hugging your family until you’ve changed or showered
- Keep family members from visiting you at work if there may be asbestos
- Leave tools, equipment, or other items that may have come in contact with asbestos at work
- Shower or change into clean clothes at work to avoid bringing asbestos fibers home
- Wash your work clothes separately from other household laundry
By taking these steps, you may be able to help protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand asbestos exposure.
Fighting for Secondary Asbestos Exposure Victims & Their Families
If someone you love unknowingly exposed you to asbestos, it’s important to understand that it wasn’t their fault. The true responsibility lies with the companies that knowingly manufactured or sold asbestos-containing products.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, our mesothelioma attorneys have:
- Over 25 years of experience in asbestos litigation
- No upfront costs or hourly fees
- The ability to help families in all 50 states
- More than $10.2 billion in past results for asbestos victims
We’re prepared to hold the companies responsible for your illness accountable — and we’ll handle every step of the legal process on your behalf. Let us fight for the compensation your family deserves.
Call (800) 326-8900 now or fill out our contact form to get started with a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Asbestos Secondary Exposure FAQs
What is secondhand asbestos exposure?
Secondhand asbestos exposure happens when individuals are exposed to asbestos fibers indirectly, often due to close contact with a family member or coworker who worked around the hazardous material.
Asbestos fibers may cling to a worker’s clothing, hair, or personal items. Breathing in or swallowing these fibers may put you at risk of serious illnesses like mesothelioma.
Contact Simmons Hanly Conroy now if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. You may be eligible for compensation that can help pay for medical bills and more.
How much secondary exposure to asbestos do you need to get sick?
Even a single instance of secondary exposure to asbestos can increase your chances of mesothelioma and other diseases.
While greater or more frequent exposure to asbestos can make it more likely for someone to get sick, it only takes one exposure to asbestos fibers to cause long-term health consequences.
What are the first signs of asbestos poisoning?
The first signs of asbestos poisoning may take 10-50 years to appear after exposure and can include:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
If you begin experiencing any of these mesothelioma symptoms, contact your doctor and let them know about your history of asbestos exposure.
How do you know if you've been exposed to asbestos?
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Because this cancer forms 10-50 years after exposure, many clients don’t remember how or when they were exposed.
For this reason, it’s highly recommended to work with an experienced mesothelioma law firm that has the resources to pinpoint your exposure history.
Our team of experienced attorneys and investigators can help determine the products you were exposed to — and which asbestos companies may be responsible.
Can I get mesothelioma even if I didn’t work around asbestos?
Even if you didn’t work around asbestos, you may be at risk of getting mesothelioma if someone you love worked around this dangerous mineral.
In secondary asbestos exposure cases, victims may breathe in or swallow asbestos fibers that were clinging to the clothes, hair, or belongings of someone close to them.
We can help families impacted by mesothelioma seek justice and compensation for their illness. Call (800) 326-8900 now for a free consultation.
How long do you have to be around asbestos to get mesothelioma?
While those who were regularly exposed to asbestos face a greater risk of mesothelioma, even a single exposure from decades ago can lead to this cancer.
If you got sick after being exposed to asbestos, you may have legal options available to you. Contact us now for free to see if our mesothelioma law firm may be able to help.
How is secondary exposure different than primary asbestos exposure?
Primary asbestos exposure occurs when someone is directly exposed to asbestos, usually through working with or around the dangerous mineral.
Secondary exposure occurs when someone is indirectly exposed to asbestos, typically through contact with fibers on the clothing, hair, or equipment of a worker who has handled asbestos.
Reviewed by: Amy Fair R.N. Director of Medical Relations
- Fact-Checked
- Medical Reviewer
Amy fills a unique role helping guide patients and families through the often confusing and overwhelming steps following an asbestos-related cancer diagnosis. Assisted by 14 medical assistants and a Licensed Practical Nurse, Amy and her medical team provide healthcare information and explain treatment options to those recently diagnosed and throughout the progression of their disease.