Take Home Asbestos Exposure
When we think of mesothelioma victims, we don’t usually picture a mother of young children or a man just entering his prime. Usually, the image that comes to mind is a retired auto worker or Navy veteran who was exposed to high doses of asbestos throughout his career. Unfortunately, more and more people who do not fit the sterotype are being diagnosed with mesothelioma. They are sons, daughters and spouses of people who unknowingly brought asbestos home with them after work.
This second-hand, or take-home, exposure to asbestos is one of the leading causes of mesothelioma in those who do not work in an asbestos-related occupation. Take-home asbestos exposure happens when someone who works in close proximity to asbestos carries the deadly fiber home with them after work. Asbestos can be carried on:
- Clothing
- Shoes
- Skin
- Hair
When this asbestos is taken home, it can be inhaled by family members who hug the carrier or wash his clothes. Even children who spend time playing around the contaminated clothes in the laundry room can breathe the cancer-causing fibers. Today, doctors are seeing a surprising number middle-aged adults and older women with mesothelioma who were exposed to asbestos decades earlier through a family member.
What should I do if I’ve been exposed to asbestos through take-home exposure?
If you believe that you may have been exposed to asbestos through a family member, talk to your doctor. Because mesothelioma is a rare disease that shares symptoms with many common ailments, it is often difficult to diagnose. If you start exhibiting symptoms of mesothelioma and your doctor knows you’ve been exposed to take-home asbestos, he may have a much easier time diagnosing your illness.
How can I make sure my family members are not exposed to asbestos?
If you believe that you may work around asbestos, you can protect your family members from take-home asbestos exposure through two simple steps:
- Keep your work clothing away from others. If you can, change out of your work clothes before you get home. Keep all contaminated articles of clothing in their own sealed laundry bag before washing them.
- Wash up as soon as possible. Even after you change out of your work clothes, you could still carry asbestos on your skin and hair. Protect your family members by taking a shower either at work or as soon as you get home, before you touch anyone.
Take-home asbestos exposure is too often a tragic consequence of corporate irresponsibility. By working together to ban asbestos and raise awareness of mesothelioma, however, we can start reducing instances of take-home asbestos exposure. Explore our site to learn more about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos exposure.