Understanding Secondary Asbestos Exposure
When most people think about asbestos exposure, they often picture miners, shipyard workers or construction workers. People in these industries have often been directly exposed to asbestos day in, day out, for decades.
However, a broader population is also affected – including workers who do not work hands-on with asbestos, as well as family and household members of those occupationally exposed to asbestos. This indirect exposure, known as secondary or bystander asbestos exposure, can be just as devastating. Over time, it can lead to significant health issues like asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Fortunately, legal help is available for those affected by secondary asbestos exposure.
Nationwide Advocates For Asbestos Victims
At Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, we help victims of asbestos exposure – including indirect exposure – seek justice. Our firm has achieved many notable successes in these cases, including an $89.6 million jury verdict in an asbestos lawsuit. Our asbestos attorneys have more than 125 years of combined experience handling asbestos-related injury cases. Based in Bloomington, we represent secondary asbestos exposure victims across Illinois and nationwide.
How Exactly Does Secondary Asbestos Exposure Happen?
Asbestos is made up of microscopic fibers that, once airborne, can hang indefinitely in the air and travel in the air currents or easily stick to clothing, hair and other items where it can be brought into the home of the workers who are exposed. “Bystander asbestos exposure” occurs when asbestos fibers travel in the air to expose workers in the vicinity who are not even working with the asbestos product. “Secondary asbestos exposure” occurs when asbestos fibers are brought into the home or neighborhood environment from an individual who was exposed in another environment.
One common form of secondary exposure is “household exposure,” where fibers are carried into the home on the clothing or belongings of family/household members who work with asbestos.
Another form is “neighborhood exposure,” which can occur when asbestos is dispersed into the surrounding area, often from manufacturing facilities, where it can be breathed in by people who simply happen to live in the neighborhood near the plant or factory involved. Both forms of secondary exposure pose serious health risks to those who are indirectly exposed, and put those individuals at risk for asbestos related cancers and other diseases.
Who Is Most At Risk For Secondary Asbestos Exposure?
Family and household members of individuals working in asbestos-exposed occupations are particularly vulnerable to secondary exposure. These occupations include:
- Shipyard employees
- Plumbers and pipefitters
- Railroad workers
- Refinery workers
- Factory workers
- Auto mechanics
- Boilermakers
- Electricians
- Carpenters
- Laborers
- Construction workers
- Merchant marines and U.S. Navy personnel
Secondary exposure can occur even if you have never worked directly with asbestos yourself. Simply living with someone who is regularly exposed to asbestos can put you at risk.
Get The Legal Help You Deserve
If you or a loved one has been affected by secondary asbestos exposure, contact us online or by phone at 844-880-5039 or 309-828-5099 for legal assistance. Our experienced asbestos lawyers can help you explore your options for pursuing justice and compensation. We understand the impact of secondary exposure and are committed to improving your quality of life and securing the justice you deserve.