Most people are familiar with the risks of asbestos exposure for those workers who are employed in areas that could lead to long term asbestos exposure, which may develop into lung cancer.

However, many people are not aware of the risks associated with second-hand asbestos exposure, which can still cause a broad range of medical conditions. Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when an employee working with asbestos unknowingly brings those fibers home, placing residents inside the home in danger.

Secondary asbestos exposure has been linked to many of the same issues as primary exposure such as lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. Primary asbestos exposure was especially common throughout the 20th century because many men were employed in positions using or touching asbestos products.

Secondary asbestos exposure is more common among the wives and children of the men who were exposed to the substance. Although regulations associated with use of asbestos products was enacted in the 1970s, many employees working with asbestos unknowingly brought these fibers home on their shoes, tools and work clothes.

While primary exposure that may ultimately develop into mesothelioma or lung cancer can take time to build up, another resident inside the home may not even realize the dangers of second-hand asbestos exposure. Continual long term secondary asbestos exposure causes many of the same cancers and diseases as primary exposure.

Secondary asbestos exposure may also be referred to as indirect exposure, take-home exposure, para-occupational exposure and household exposure. Although secondary asbestos exposure is not as common today as it was in decades past, many people are still at risk of second-had asbestos exposure. Secondary asbestos exposure is a primary cause for a large percentage of mesothelioma cases among children and women.

Some employers have gone the extra step to try to minimize any potential exposure that might come home with an employee. These steps include shower facilities provided to employees and a place for them to leave possibly contaminated clothing at work. Although these measures may decrease the risk, exposure from a worker’s clothing or other items might still occur accidentally.

Sadly, secondhand exposure can be more difficult to track since it takes a long period of time to develop into medical conditions and issues. Someone who does not know whether they interact with asbestos fibers on a daily basis might not take any preventative steps to cut down on the chance of secondhand exposure. With asbestos fibers, someone might not even realize they’ve been exposed until they receive a diagnosis down the line.

Children in particular are at high risk because if they are exposed to second-hand asbestos at an early period, they could develop asbestos-related diseases in their older years. Given the long latency period, which can be as much as 50 years between the time of exposure and the development of asbestos related diseases, it is extremely important for anyone who believes they may have been exposed to asbestos to schedule a consider participation in a class action investigation.