Wives, children, and other family members of asbestos workers face up to 10 times higher mesothelioma risk from "take-home" fibers brought into the home on work clothes, skin, and hair. An estimated 8-10% of all mesothelioma cases result from secondary exposure—people who never worked with asbestos but were exposed through a family member who did. These victims have the same legal rights to compensation as those who were exposed directly in the workplace.
Executive Summary
Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when microscopic asbestos fibers are carried home from workplaces on clothing, hair, and belongings, exposing family members to deadly fibers they would never have encountered otherwise. Research shows household contacts—particularly wives who laundered work clothes—have mesothelioma rates up to 10 times higher than the general population. Among women with mesothelioma, secondary exposure accounts for a substantial percentage of cases. Courts have consistently held manufacturers liable for failing to warn about take-home exposure risks, and victims can pursue compensation through trust funds, lawsuits, and other sources. Proving secondary exposure requires documenting the household relationship, the worker's exposure history, and the manner of fiber contact.
8 Key Facts About Secondary Asbestos Exposure
- Elevated Risk: Household contacts face up to 10x higher mesothelioma risk [1]
- Percentage of Cases: 8-10% of mesothelioma cases from secondary exposure [2]
- Primary Victims: Wives, children, and parents of asbestos workers [1]
- Common Pathway: Laundering asbestos-contaminated work clothes [3]
- Legal Recognition: Courts in all 50 states recognize secondary exposure claims [4]
- Latency Period: Disease develops 20-50 years after exposure [2]
- Compensation Available: Trust funds, lawsuits, and VA benefits (for veterans' families)
- Women Affected: Secondary exposure accounts for many female mesothelioma cases
What Is Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Secondary asbestos exposure—also called "take-home," "household," or "para-occupational" exposure—occurs when asbestos fibers are transported from a workplace into a home, where family members inhale them. Unlike occupational exposure, secondary exposure victims never worked directly with asbestos-containing products.
Higher mesothelioma risk for household contacts of asbestos workers
How Secondary Exposure Occurs
Asbestos workers unknowingly carried microscopic fibers home through several pathways:
- Work clothing: Fibers embedded in fabric, released during handling and laundering
- Hair and skin: Fibers trapped in hair, beards, and on exposed skin
- Shoes and boots: Asbestos dust on footwear tracked through the house
- Work vehicles: Contaminated truck seats and interiors
- Lunch boxes and belongings: Items taken to work sites and back home
The secondary exposure guide provides detailed information about how take-home exposure occurs.
"I've worked with families who are devastated to learn that their loved one's mesothelioma came from simply being a good wife and mother—doing laundry, caring for her husband. These women did nothing wrong, yet they face the same deadly disease as the workers themselves."
— Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support, Danziger & De Llano
Who Is Most at Risk for Secondary Exposure?
Certain family members face higher secondary exposure risk based on their relationship to the worker and the nature of their contact.
Wives and Partners
Wives of asbestos workers are the most commonly documented secondary exposure victims. The primary risk activity was laundering work clothes—shaking out dusty garments released clouds of asbestos fibers into the air.
Studies have found that wives of asbestos workers have mesothelioma rates 5-10 times higher than women in the general population [1]. Among women diagnosed with mesothelioma, household exposure is a leading cause [2].
Children
Children were exposed when they:
- Hugged their father when he came home from work
- Played on carpets or furniture contaminated with fibers
- Helped with laundry
- Spent time in work vehicles
Because mesothelioma has a 20-50 year latency period, children exposed in the 1960s and 1970s are only now being diagnosed.
Other Household Members
Parents, siblings, and others living in the same household as asbestos workers also faced elevated risk. Anyone who had regular contact with contaminated clothing or spent significant time in contaminated home environments may have been exposed.
Of mesothelioma cases attributed to secondary exposure
Which Occupations Created the Highest Secondary Exposure Risk?
Family members of workers in certain occupations face the highest secondary exposure risk due to heavy asbestos contamination of work clothing.
Highest-Risk Occupations for Take-Home Exposure
| Occupation | Reason for High Take-Home Risk |
|---|---|
| Insulation Workers | Direct handling of friable asbestos; heavily contaminated clothing |
| Shipyard Workers | Confined spaces, poor ventilation, extensive asbestos use |
| Boilermakers | Constant contact with asbestos insulation |
| Pipefitters | Cutting and fitting asbestos pipe coverings |
| Construction Workers | Demolition and renovation of asbestos buildings |
| Auto Mechanics | Brake and clutch work releasing asbestos dust |
| Power Plant Workers | Maintenance of asbestos-insulated equipment |
The occupational exposure index provides detailed information about asbestos exposure by job type.
Can Family Members Sue for Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Yes. Courts across the United States have consistently recognized that asbestos manufacturers and employers had a duty to warn about take-home exposure risks—and that family members can recover damages when that duty was breached.
Legal Basis for Secondary Exposure Claims
Secondary exposure lawsuits are based on several legal theories:
- Product liability: Manufacturers failed to warn about take-home dangers
- Negligence: Companies knew of risks but didn't require protective measures
- Premises liability: Employers failed to prevent fiber contamination of clothing
Courts have found that manufacturers knew about secondary exposure risks as early as the 1960s but continued selling products without warnings.
"Many families don't realize they have a legal claim. They think mesothelioma compensation is only for the worker who was directly exposed. But the law recognizes that companies had a duty to protect families too—and when they failed, families deserve compensation."
— Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support, Danziger & De Llano
Landmark Secondary Exposure Cases
Courts in California, New Jersey, New York, and many other states have issued significant verdicts and settlements for secondary exposure victims. These cases established legal precedent that protects household exposure victims nationwide.
What Compensation Is Available for Secondary Exposure Victims?
Secondary exposure victims can pursue compensation through multiple sources, similar to those available to directly exposed workers.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Most asbestos trust funds compensate secondary exposure claimants. Claims require documenting the primary worker's exposure to the trust's products and the claimant's household relationship.
Trust fund payments for secondary exposure mesothelioma cases can total $180,000-$400,000 or more from multiple trusts.
Lawsuits Against Manufacturers
Secondary exposure victims can sue companies whose products contaminated the worker's clothing. Settlements and verdicts have ranged from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
VA Benefits for Veterans' Families
If the primary exposed worker was a veteran, surviving spouses may qualify for VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits. Learn more about veterans benefits.
Typical combined trust fund recovery for secondary exposure cases
How Do You Prove Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Proving secondary exposure requires establishing several elements:
Essential Evidence
- Household relationship: Marriage certificates, birth certificates, shared address documentation
- Worker's exposure history: Employment records, job duties, products used
- Manner of contact: Testimony about laundering clothes, physical contact
- Timing: Overlap between worker's employment and household contact
- Exclusion of other sources: Evidence ruling out occupational or environmental exposure
Supporting Documentation
- Worker's employment records, W-2s, Social Security statements
- Family photos, especially those showing work clothes at home
- Testimony from family members about household activities
- Medical records documenting the relationship
- Death certificates (if worker has passed)
The evidence preservation guide explains how to document secondary exposure claims.
Secondary Exposure and Women's Mesothelioma
Secondary exposure is particularly significant in understanding mesothelioma in women. While mesothelioma overall is more common in men (due to higher occupational exposure rates), a substantial percentage of female mesothelioma cases result from household exposure.
Why Secondary Exposure Disproportionately Affects Women
Traditional gender roles in mid-20th century America meant:
- Women typically handled household laundry duties
- Wives had regular physical contact with husbands after work
- Women were less likely to work in asbestos industries directly
As a result, many women diagnosed with mesothelioma today were exposed through their role as wives and mothers of asbestos workers.
"When I meet with families affected by secondary exposure, there's often tremendous guilt—the feeling that the worker brought this disease home. I always remind them: this is not their fault. The companies that made these products knew the danger and chose not to warn families."
— Anna Jackson, Director of Patient Support, Danziger & De Llano
Frequently Asked Questions
What is secondary asbestos exposure?
Secondary (or "take-home") asbestos exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are brought home on a worker's clothing, hair, skin, or belongings, exposing family members who never worked directly with asbestos. Wives who washed their husbands' work clothes and children who hugged their fathers after work are at significant risk.
Can you get mesothelioma from washing work clothes?
Yes. Studies show that household contacts, particularly wives who laundered asbestos-contaminated work clothes, have significantly elevated mesothelioma risk—up to 10 times higher than the general population. Shaking out dusty clothes released microscopic fibers into the air that were then inhaled.
How many mesothelioma cases are from secondary exposure?
Research indicates that approximately 8-10% of mesothelioma cases are attributed to secondary exposure. Among women diagnosed with mesothelioma, the percentage from household exposure is even higher, as women were less likely to work directly with asbestos.
Can family members sue for secondary asbestos exposure?
Yes. Family members who developed mesothelioma from secondary exposure can file lawsuits against the companies whose products exposed their family member at work. Courts have recognized that manufacturers had a duty to warn about take-home exposure risks.
What compensation is available for secondary exposure victims?
Secondary exposure victims can pursue compensation through asbestos trust funds, lawsuits against manufacturers, and (for veterans' families) VA benefits. Settlements and verdicts for secondary exposure cases have reached hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars.
How do you prove secondary asbestos exposure?
Proving secondary exposure requires documenting the household relationship (spouse, child, parent), the primary worker's asbestos exposure history, the manner of contact (laundering clothes, direct contact), and ruling out other potential exposure sources.
Next Steps for Secondary Exposure Victims
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and believes the exposure came from a family member's workplace, you may have a valid claim for compensation. The companies that manufactured asbestos products had a duty to warn about take-home exposure—and they can be held accountable for their failure.
Our experienced mesothelioma attorneys have helped many secondary exposure victims recover compensation. We understand the unique challenges of proving household exposure and have the resources to document your claim effectively.
Related Resources
- Mesothelioma Caregiver Guide — Supporting your family
- Asbestos Trust Funds Guide — Compensation sources
- Find Mesothelioma Lawyers by State — Legal assistance
- Free Case Assessment — Evaluate your claim
Learn More
- Secondary Exposure Overview — Detailed exposure information
- Occupational Exposure Index — High-risk jobs
- Mesothelioma Claim Process — How claims work
Sources:
- American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. (2023). Household Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Risk.
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine. (2024). Secondary Asbestos Exposure Epidemiology Study.
- Journal of Law and Health. (2024). Take-Home Asbestos Exposure: Legal Recognition Analysis.
- Cancer Epidemiology. (2023). Mesothelioma in Women: Exposure Patterns.
Last updated: January 24, 2026
About the Author
Anna JacksonDirector of Patient Support with personal caregiver experience at Danziger & De Llano
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