Measuring exposure relationships in the workplace, the contamination of work clothing, and take-home exposures and risks

Para-occupational Asbestos Exposure Analysis and Study Design

Asbestos exposure can pose significant health risks in workers, but no one was studying the magnitude, relationship, or risk of primary workers exposing their household contacts to this substance. Our Health Sciences Advisory team decided to delve into this unexplored area.

We performed a comprehensive literature review and designed an exposure study to measure the relationship between airborne chrysotile (white asbestos) concentrations in the workplace, the contamination of work clothing, and take-home exposures and risks. We found that under the conditions tested, para-occupational exposures could account for up to approximately one percent of primary worker exposures.

Once finished, we published this series of studies in peer-reviewed literature to provide valuable information for future exposure assessment and human health risk evaluation.