Secondhand and Household Exposure

Before workplace rules required changing rooms and on-site laundering, many workers wore their dusty clothes home. Dust fell onto car seats, furniture, floors and beds. The biggest exposure often came from laundry: shaking out work clothes before washing released fibers into the air where a spouse or child was standing. Hugging a parent after a shift, riding in the family car or playing with work gear could also lead to exposure. Some families lived near job sites and had additional exposure from the air or waste materials. Dust could remain in homes for long periods if not cleaned carefully.

Spouses who handled laundry are among the most commonly affected. Children of shipyard workers, insulators, plant workers and construction tradespeople are also frequently described in medical studies and legal cases. Siblings and grandparents who lived in the household may have been exposed too. Because these people did not work with asbestos, they often do not suspect it until a doctor asks detailed questions about family members' jobs. Recognizing that possibility early helps doctors and investigators build an accurate history. Doctors increasingly ask about household exposure when patients have no clear job history. Answer as fully as you can, even if memories are incomplete.

Household exposure claims depend on showing where the worker was employed, what products were used there, and how dust reached the home. Details that help include who did the laundry, whether clothes were shaken out, whether the worker came home visibly dusty and how long this pattern lasted. Family members, neighbors and former coworkers of the worker can confirm these facts. Employment records, union cards and Social Security earnings statements help document the worker's job history, even if that person has passed away. Photos of the worker in work clothes or at the job site can also help.

1. 1

   List the jobs of every household member during your childhood and marriage.

2. 2

   Write down who washed work clothes and whether they were shaken out first.

3. 3

   Ask siblings and relatives what they remember about dusty work clothes at home.

4. 4

   Gather the worker's Social Security earnings record or union documents if available.