Secondhand (Take-Home) Asbestos Exposure
Can family members get mesothelioma from secondhand asbestos exposure?
Quick Answer
Yes. Family members exposed to asbestos brought home on a worker's clothing, skin, hair, or work bag (wives who washed work clothes, children who hugged returning workers) have documented mesothelioma cases. Take-home exposure is well-recognized in the medical literature and eligible for trust fund claims + product liability lawsuits.
Detailed Answer
Secondhand (also called 'take-home' or 'household') asbestos exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are carried home on a worker's clothing, skin, hair, or tools. Family members who came into contact with these contaminated items developed mesothelioma decades later — even though they themselves never worked with asbestos.
Common Take-Home Exposure Pathways
- Wives who washed contaminated work clothes — the most documented secondary exposure pathway. Asbestos fibers shaken loose during sorting, washing, and folding.
- Children who hugged returning workers — particularly common in shipyard and refinery families.
- Family members in shared living spaces — fibers tracked in on shoes, clothes, work bags settle in carpets and upholstery.
- Workers who carried lunchboxes or thermos to work — items returned home with contamination.
Documented Take-Home Mesothelioma Clusters
Take-home exposure has been documented in dozens of high-risk occupations:
- Naval shipyard families (Norfolk, Newport News, Bath, Portsmouth, Pearl Harbor, Brooklyn, Kaiser Richmond)
- Refinery worker families
- Asbestos textile worker families (Bristol County MA, Manville NJ)
- Asbestos mine and processing communities (Libby MT, Sylacauga AL, Vermont)
- Steel mill families (Mon Valley PA, Calumet IN, Cleveland OH, Birmingham AL)
Legal Standing for Take-Home Cases
Take-home mesothelioma cases are well-recognized and well-litigated. California's Sumner v. Pacific Gas & Electric and similar cases in many states have established the legal duty owed by employers and asbestos manufacturers to household members. Take-home claimants typically qualify for: (1) all asbestos trust funds the worker would qualify for, (2) product liability lawsuits, (3) sometimes premise owner claims.
How Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm Helps
Our team handles mesothelioma cases nationwide. We pursue all three compensation tracks in parallel — lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers and premise owners, claims against the 60+ asbestos bankruptcy trust funds, and VA disability for veterans. Authored by Michelle Whitman, reviewed by Paul Danziger, edited by Rod De Llano.
Disclaimer: This information is general in nature and not a substitute for personalized legal advice. Statute of limitations deadlines vary by state and are strictly enforced. Contact us for a free, confidential case evaluation.