We all know what asbestos exposure is. It’s when you’re exposed to airborne asbestos fibres and potentially put at risk of asbestos-related illnesses like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

But did you know that you can still be at risk of asbestos-related illnesses even if you weren’t the one exposed to friable asbestos? Secondary asbestos exposure can be just as deadly for some people, and it might surprise you to learn how it happens.

What Is Secondary Asbestos Exposure?

Secondary asbestos exposure is when you don’t directly handle asbestos but are in contact with someone who does. For example, a construction worker who doesn’t take precautionary measures when dealing with possible asbestos-containing materials might take asbestos fibres home with them on their clothing.

Those fibres are then spread around the home and breathed in by the occupants, putting them at risk of the very same illnesses as the person with primary asbestos exposure.

How Might Someone Experience Secondary Asbestos Exposure?

It might seem unlikely that you could be at risk of secondary asbestos exposure just by being in contact with someone who was exposed, but it can happen in some of the following ways:

Clothing

Asbestos fibres are so tiny that they can easily attach to clothing. If someone working with asbestos doesn’t wear appropriate PPE and safety gear, asbestos fibres can make their way into people’s homes, contaminating their space.

Furniture

You might be at risk of secondary asbestos exposure simply by using furniture previously used by people with asbestos fibres on their clothing. Sofas and chairs, in particular, can have breathable materials that make it easier for asbestos fibres to stick to.

Vehicles

Unless you take all necessary safety precautions, like creating decontamination stations after working with asbestos, there’s potential for asbestos fibres to end up in vehicles. After working with asbestos-contaminated materials, workers can hop into their vehicles, leave asbestos fibres behind, and put other people at risk who might later use those same vehicles.

Personal Contact

Who knew that a hug could prove fatal? There have been many known cases of secondary exposure through people working with asbestos returning home with contaminated clothing and transferring it to other household members.

For example, Deanna Trevarthen died from mesothelioma in 2016 at 45 years old. It’s believed that she contracted it as a child from her father, who worked as an electrician. From age four to age 10, Deanna hugged her father while he wore his work clothing. She would sometimes also play at his worksites.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure Cases

Deanna Trevarthen’s case became well known throughout New Zealand, especially in her battle for ACC coverage before and after her death. However, we have learned about secondary asbestos exposure through other prominent cases throughout the world.

In one case, a shipyard machinist’s wife developed pleural mesothelioma in the 1980s. A case study revealed that secondary exposure levels could be equally as high as the industrial workers themselves.

Another study was also carried out on residents living in Libby, Montana. It found that people living at home with employees from a local vermiculite mine were more at risk of pleural abnormalities.

A 1990s German study was also quite telling about the prevalence of secondary asbestos exposure. Six people were diagnosed with mesothelioma without any known asbestos exposure events. However, five of the women were found to have been exposed to asbestos through doing their husbands’ laundry. The remaining person was the son of someone who worked with asbestos.

Who’s At Risk of Secondary Asbestos Exposure?

It’s easy to assume that you’ll never be at risk of asbestos exposure and illnesses related to it because you haven’t worked with asbestos before. However, any number of people can be at risk of secondary exposure, such as:

• The family members of people who work with asbestos and don’t take appropriate safety measures

• The friends of people who work with asbestos and don’t take appropriate safety measures

• The coworkers of people who work with asbestos and don’t take appropriate safety measures

Can You Prevent Secondary Asbestos Exposure?

In the same way you can prevent primary asbestos exposure, you can also prevent secondary asbestos exposure. However, you generally must rely on the people working with asbestos or being exposed to it to keep you and others safe.

Typically, asbestos exposure, in general, can be prevented in some of the following ways:

• Letting trained and qualified experts handle asbestos removal

• Not exposing yourself to friable asbestos-containing materials and products

• Following WorkSafe guidelines for asbestos-related work

• Ensuring proper personal decontamination after working with asbestos

Don’t Risk Asbestos Exposure; Leave Asbestos Removal to the Experts

Both primary and secondary asbestos exposure can be fatal, with the average person exposed to asbestos fibres at a high risk of related illnesses like cancer and asbestosis. Keep yourself and your family safe by leaving asbestos removal tasks in the capable hands of trained and qualified experts like Chemcare.