Secondary Asbestos Exposure & Lung Cancer Risks
Secondary Asbestos Exposure & Lung Cancer Risks
Families of asbestos workers have gone on to develop lung cancer or other serious illnesses as a result of secondary exposure. This type of exposure occurred when workers came home with asbestos fibers stuck to their body, clothing, hair, skin, or equipment. Learn more about secondary exposure and get help if you’re facing lung cancer.
How Secondary Exposure Puts Families In Danger of Lung Cancer
They never worked in a shipyard. They never handled insulation or spent a shift in a factory where dust hung in the air. But families of those who worked around asbestos-containing products could be at risk of illnesses like lung cancer today due to secondary exposure.
Secondary asbestos exposure is also called secondhand or take-home exposure. It happened because workers could leave work sites covered in toxic dust contaminated with asbestos fibers.
Upon returning home, the fibers could be spread throughout the house to other people living in the home — contributing to a lung cancer diagnosis in some cases.
Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more about the dangers of asbestos and lung cancer, and how to get help after a diagnosis.
- Understand risk factors
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Who Was In Danger of Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Anyone who lived with those who worked with asbestos-containing materials on a regular basis could’ve been in danger of secondary exposure.
Those who risked exposure included:
- Children
- Spouses
- Other relatives like parents or siblings
For people who made a living in high-risk asbestos occupations, such as shipyard work, construction, or plumbing, they likely brought home toxic fibers every day for decades.
A wife doing laundry could shake out contaminated garments, releasing the dust into the air. Children who hugged workers returning home could release the fibers.
How Secondary Asbestos Exposure Leads to Lung Cancer
When a loved one is diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s easy to assume that smoking is the cause. But, if a family member has a history of industrial or shipyard work, secondary asbestos exposure could have played a role too.
Concentrations of asbestos found in the lungs of some household exposure victims were similar to those found in shipyard industry workers, which is one of the occupations with the highest risk of asbestos exposure.
Asbestos fibers actually make the damage that smoking does to the lungs worse.
As a result, loved ones who smoked and also were exposed to asbestos secondhand are at a much higher risk of getting sick later in life.
Secondary Exposure & Mesothelioma
Family members who suffered secondhand asbestos exposure aren’t just at risk of lung cancer.
Asbestos has been shown to cause several types of serious diseases, most notably a cancer called mesothelioma, which affects the linings of the lungs or other organs.
Here’s what to know about secondary exposure & mesothelioma:
- A Journal of Lung Health and Diseases study found that nearly a third of all mesothelioma cases in the United States are the result of secondhand exposure.
- The risk for mesothelioma among women with a husband or father working in an asbestos-related industry increases 10-fold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- In some cases, several family members from the same household have been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to shared asbestos exposure
Loved ones of asbestos workers may not immediately connect a lung cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis with take-home exposure.
However, it’s an important consideration not only to fully understand the diagnosis, but also to determine if legal options are available.
Get a free case review now to find out what next steps may be available for you if you’re facing lung cancer or mesothelioma.
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- Learn About Your Options
- Contact Us for Free
Financial Support for Secondary Asbestos Exposure Victims
Many manufacturers of asbestos-containing products failed to disclose the health risks associated with exposure for decades. As a result, families impacted by diseases stemming from occupational or secondary exposure may be eligible for compensation from them.
While each case’s outcome is unique, some asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma legal claims have awarded $1 million or more — helping patients and loved ones more easily afford medical expenses and any other bills.
Lung Cancer Group is committed to supporting families who may have been affected by on-the-job or take-home asbestos exposure.
Connect with us to:
- Explore the link between secondary exposure and lung cancer
- File lung cancer claims to get compensation
- Pursue additional support options for your family
Start with a free case review or call (877) 446-5767 to speak with a patient advocate and get a better idea as to your options.
Written by:Lung Cancer GroupLung Cancer Group was established by a team of caring advocates so those with lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases can get the help they deserve. Our site provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about lung cancer, its link to asbestos, and financial compensation available to patients. Contact us to learn more and get assistance.
