Secondhand Asbestos Exposure

Secondhand asbestos exposure
http://www.mesorc.com/asbestos-exposure/second-hand-exposure/

The health risks of coming into direct contact with asbestos are widely known today.  But it's only in the last few years that the dangers of secondhand asbestos exposure have become apparent and begun warranting the attention of families who have been affected by multiple mesothelioma or asbestos-related illnesses - with some seeking asbestos settlements as a result.  

Secondhand asbestos exposure occurs when a person is indirectly exposed to asbestos through either a household member or the environment.  It is increasingly being recognized as a direct cause of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other types of serious asbestos-related illnesses.

In the Household
One common scenario for secondhand asbestos exposure is when a person lives with someone who handles asbestos or asbestos products at work.  In many industrial settings, even as late as the 1970s, there were no showers or changing areas for asbestos workers. Instead, workers had no choice but to carry the white asbestos dust home on their clothes, shoes and hair. When their children would hug them—or when their wives would move, sort and wash their clothes—the carcinogenic particles would be released into the air, exposing the entire household to its dangers.

In the Environment
Secondhand asbestos exposure can also happen when a person lives close to a source of asbestos.

Do You Have a History of Secondhand Asbestos Exposure?
Like firsthand exposure to asbestos, the symptoms related to secondhand asbestos exposure may not emerge for 10 to 40 years after the initial exposure.  If you believe you may have been indirectly exposed to asbestos in the home or in the environment, you may wish to talk to your doctor about your health risks. For families who must deal with the harsh realities of a mesothelioma diagnosis regarding a loved one who had secondhand asbestos exposure, contact a mesothelioma attorney to see if there is possibility of receiving a asbestos settlement

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