Secondhand, home, and environmental asbestos exposure

Take-home exposure

Before workplace rules changed, many workers came home with asbestos dust on their clothes, hair, and skin. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) notes some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, likely from fibers brought into the home on shoes, clothing, skin, and hair. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says the same: family members of people exposed at work can be exposed because workers carried fibers home.

Common examples are a spouse who shook out and washed work clothes, or children who hugged a parent coming home from a shipyard, plant, or construction job. To reduce this kind of exposure, NCI notes, federal law now regulates workplace practices to limit this, and some employees may be required to shower and change clothes before they leave work or to store street clothes separately.

If you think your exposure came through someone else's job, write down what you know about their work: the employer, job sites, rough years, and the products they used. That history matters to your doctor and to any claim.

Older homes and buildings

Asbestos was used in many older homes, schools, and public buildings. EPA lists places where it can be found, including:

• vinyl floor tiles, the backing on vinyl sheet flooring, and adhesives,
• textured paint and patching compounds on walls and ceilings,
• walls and floors around wood stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets,
• hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos material or wrapped in asbestos tape, and
• oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets with asbestos insulation.

ACS notes that because the fibers are contained in the materials, they are not likely to be in the air in large numbers. The risk is likely to be very low unless the material breaks down over time or is disturbed during remodeling or removal.

EPA's do's and don'ts for homeowners

EPA advises that you generally cannot tell whether a material contains asbestos just by looking at it, and that material in good condition is usually best left alone. EPA's guidance includes:

• Do leave undamaged material alone, and limit activity, including children's access, near damaged material.
• Do have sampling, repair, and removal done by a trained and accredited asbestos professional. Sampling done incorrectly can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone.
• Don't dust, sweep, or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos.
• Don't saw, sand, scrape, or drill holes in materials that may contain asbestos, or sand asbestos flooring.
• Don't track possible asbestos debris through the house.

EPA also suggests using two different firms for inspection and for repair or removal, so there is no conflict of interest.

Schools

ACS notes that by federal law, all schools must inspect asbestos-containing materials regularly and have a plan for managing them. NCI adds that EPA regulations require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and remove or encase it.

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is a mineral that expands when heated and was used in attic insulation, garden products, and other goods. Vermiculite from a mine near Libby, Montana, was contaminated with asbestos and was shipped to processing plants around the country. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) studied exposures at 28 sites around the country that processed Libby vermiculite. Our state guides name the documented processing plants, and our Montana guide covers Libby.

Naturally occurring asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral found in some rock and soil. ACS notes that many people breathe very low levels of naturally occurring asbestos in outdoor air, more so in areas where the rock contains more asbestos, and that in some areas it is found in the water supply. A related mineral, erionite, is discussed on our risk factors page.

Disasters: the World Trade Center

NCI notes that people involved in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup at the World Trade Center site after the September 11, 2001, attacks are a group at risk of asbestos-related disease, because asbestos used in the North Tower was released when the building was attacked. CDC's World Trade Center Health Program lists covered conditions; see our New York guide.

What to do now

• If you have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or a cough that will not go away, tell your doctor about any possible exposure, even if it was through someone else's job.
• Write down where you lived and who in your household worked with asbestos, with rough years.
• For legal questions about secondhand exposure, talk with a lawyer licensed in your state. This page is general information, not legal advice.