Understanding The Dangers Of Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is commonly found and widely used in thousands of products, ranging from construction materials to everyday consumer goods. Individuals are most commonly exposes to asbestos in their workplaces, but product exposure, environmentally exposure, and secondary exposure are all continued risks to the general public.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural mineral that can potentially cause serious health problems when fibers become airborne, such as malignant mesothelioma. More often than not, exposure to asbestos happen in the workplace. However, it is not limited to the workplace, and anyone can come into contact and be exposed to asbestos in buildings, products or even their own homes. Since asbestos is not banned, exposure to asbestos poses as a health threat in the United States.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Secondary asbestos exposure is a form of non-occupational exposure to asbestos fibers. Other names for secondary asbestos exposure includes secondhand exposure, non-occupational, para-occupational exposure, and take-home exposure. When secondary asbestos are being repeatedly exposed, it can result in asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos lung cancer.
Secondary asbestos exposure accounts for approximately 20 percent of the mesothelioma cases – which occurs when individuals bring home asbestos fibers and it get stained on their clothes, hair or skin. These fivers can cling onto our skin and the fabrics of our clothes which make them transferable to others who have not been exposed at all.
Most At-Risk Populations
There are certain populations that are more at-risk of secondary asbestos exposure than the others. Individuals who have been living with asbestos workers and have experienced secondary asbestos exposure are twice as likely to develop asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma than the general public.
Besides living with an asbestos worker, studies have found that women are more likely to be impacted by secondary asbestos exposure. A 2017 study found that 64 percent of the female mesothelioma patients had experienced secondary exposure as compared to only 12 percent of the male patients who were exposed to asbestos secondhand.
Sources of Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Cars: Family members can experience secondary asbestos exposure when riding in the car if asbestos-contaminated items or people enter a car, the car may then contain the fibers.
Clothing: Did you know that the act of washing clothing can cause domestic exposure? Asbestos fibers may transfer from one or two contaminated clothing to the entire laundry load, exposing both the person washing the clothes and those who are going to wear those contaminated clothing.
Furniture: Furniture such as beds, chairs, and couches can all be contaminated with asbestos fibers which result to household exposure. If an asbestos worker uses the furniture with their contaminated clothing, it may result in toxin transfer.
How We Can Help
Iris Environmental Laboratories provide asbestos inspection services to help our clients in remediating their asbestos problems. Call now at 1800-908-6679 to find out more on our asbestos inspection services or fill up our online form to be contacted by our consultants.
Asbestos is commonly found and widely used in thousands of products, ranging from construction materials to everyday consumer goods. Individuals are most commonly exposes to asbestos in their workplaces, but product exposure, environmentally exposure, and secondary exposure are all continued risks to the general public.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a natural mineral that can potentially cause serious health problems when fibers become airborne, such as malignant mesothelioma. More often than not, exposure to asbestos happen in the workplace. However, it is not limited to the workplace, and anyone can come into contact and be exposed to asbestos in buildings, products or even their own homes. Since asbestos is not banned, exposure to asbestos poses as a health threat in the United States.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Secondary asbestos exposure is a form of non-occupational exposure to asbestos fibers. Other names for secondary asbestos exposure includes secondhand exposure, non-occupational, para-occupational exposure, and take-home exposure. When secondary asbestos are being repeatedly exposed, it can result in asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos lung cancer.
Secondary asbestos exposure accounts for approximately 20 percent of the mesothelioma cases – which occurs when individuals bring home asbestos fibers and it get stained on their clothes, hair or skin. These fivers can cling onto our skin and the fabrics of our clothes which make them transferable to others who have not been exposed at all.
Most At-Risk Populations
There are certain populations that are more at-risk of secondary asbestos exposure than the others. Individuals who have been living with asbestos workers and have experienced secondary asbestos exposure are twice as likely to develop asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma than the general public.
Besides living with an asbestos worker, studies have found that women are more likely to be impacted by secondary asbestos exposure. A 2017 study found that 64 percent of the female mesothelioma patients had experienced secondary exposure as compared to only 12 percent of the male patients who were exposed to asbestos secondhand.
Sources of Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Cars: Family members can experience secondary asbestos exposure when riding in the car if asbestos-contaminated items or people enter a car, the car may then contain the fibers.
Clothing: Did you know that the act of washing clothing can cause domestic exposure? Asbestos fibers may transfer from one or two contaminated clothing to the entire laundry load, exposing both the person washing the clothes and those who are going to wear those contaminated clothing.
Furniture: Furniture such as beds, chairs, and couches can all be contaminated with asbestos fibers which result to household exposure. If an asbestos worker uses the furniture with their contaminated clothing, it may result in toxin transfer.
How We Can Help
Iris Environmental Laboratories provide asbestos inspection services to help our clients in remediating their asbestos problems. Call now at 1800-908-6679 to find out more on our asbestos inspection services or fill up our online form to be contacted by our consultants.