Before the dangers of asbestos were widely known, many people in blue-collar industries were exposed to this cancer-causing substance.
However, even more were put at risk of mesothelioma through nontraditional asbestos exposure. Family members, school employees, and many more have all gone on to develop mesothelioma as a result.
Learn more about 10 jobs with a risk of nontraditional exposure and how our legal partners can determine how you were exposed to asbestos.
What Is Nontraditional Asbestos Exposure?
When it comes to occupational asbestos exposure, the most common jobs that come to mind are in construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. This is because asbestos-containing materials were used on an everyday basis at these work sites.
However, asbestos exposure occurred in many more job sites across the country. Roughly 27 million people were exposed to asbestos on the job between 1940 and 1979, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, get a Free Case Review to see how Simmons Hanly Conroy, our partner law firm, can pinpoint your exposure.
Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review
1. Clerical Workers
Clerical workers, administrators, and office employees may have been exposed to asbestos in buildings.
Cleveland Clinic notes that any building constructed before the 1970s may contain asbestos, particularly offices and homes. As buildings aged, asbestos-containing insulation, ceiling tiles, and HVAC systems deteriorated, releasing fibers into the air.
Our legal partners recently retrieved over $5 million for a clerical worker after a mesothelioma diagnosis. While she didn’t know how she was exposed, our partner attorneys were able to find this out and build a strong case for her.
2. Engineers
Engineers who visited older buildings, industrial plants, or work sites faced exposure even though they didn’t directly work with products containing asbestos. This is because the air could have been contaminated with asbestos fibers, putting anyone nearby at risk.
Mike Mattmuller, a civil engineer, saw his doctor for worsening symptoms that included shortness of breath and back pain. Testing revealed a shocking diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. He was just 29 years old.
Determining when, where, and how you were exposed to asbestos is key to accessing mesothelioma compensation. We can help pinpoint your exposure — call (866) 608-8933 to get started.
3. Musicians, Actors, and Producers
Those working in the entertainment industry were put at risk of asbestos exposure in lighting, fireproof curtains, props, insulation, and other materials. Actors and musicians like Steve McQueen, Warren Zevon, and Leonard Bernstein all passed away from pleural mesothelioma.
Simmons Hanly Conroy helped Jimmy Johnson, a music stage producer who toured with Elvis Presley, the Eagles, and many more artists, determine the sources of his exposure and secure compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
“They came to the conclusion that I got my asbestos from those days in the studios. It was pretty prevalent in those days. What I worry about now is that I never really heard too much about it until I got it.”
4. Teachers
Teachers who worked in schools built before the dangers of asbestos were known may be at risk of mesothelioma today. When asbestos-containing materials in schools wore down, teachers could have suffered exposure every day for years at a time.
Recently, testing found that 11 million tons of asbestos remained in Philadelphia school district buildings, leading to years-long cleanup efforts.
Bruce Waite was one of many teachers diagnosed with mesothelioma after a dedicated career as an educator. The school he worked at contained asbestos insulation, joint compound, and floor tiles.
“Bruce has been gone for 15 years,” recalls Nancy Waite, Bruce’s widow. “He was sick for a year. And I feel that Simmons Hanly Conroy has never left our side. Never.”
5. Laundry Workers
Asbestos fibers and dust could stick to work uniforms, shoes, and other items of clothing. Because of this, laundry workers were at risk of exposure when given contaminated clothes to wash.
Simmons Hanly Conroy attorneys negotiated a $2.58 million mesothelioma settlement for a woman from New Orleans who was exposed to asbestos from handling laundry.
Mesothelioma Hope and Simmons Hanly Conroy are here to help determine your exposure using a warehouse of evidence related to the asbestos industry.
We’ll make the process easy – get started with a Free Case Review.
6. Lab Technicians
Lab technicians unknowingly ran a high risk of mesothelioma. Up until the early 1980s, gloves, Bunsen burners, and tongs were made with asbestos due to its fire-resistant properties.
In veterinary school, Dr. Bonnie Snyder was routinely exposed to these asbestos-containing materials while working in chemistry labs. When she was diagnosed with mesothelioma decades later, Simmons Hanly Conroy helped her secure compensation to cover treatments and pay off her medical debt.
“My attorney said, ‘You do realize that companies knew asbestos caused mesothelioma?’ And I said, ‘No, I didn’t realize that. Where’s the literature to document that?’ And he showed me it.
I was exposed with the companies’ knowledge, and it’s important for others to realize that as well.”
7. Artists and Painters
Artists may have been consistently exposed to asbestos in painting supplies. For example, talc-based painting products, ceramics, and kiln insulation all contained asbestos.
In addition, various types of paint contained asbestos, putting both commercial painters and fine artists in jeopardy.
Asbestos was used in paint for buildings, cars, and ships to help it stay durable and last longer. However, if dried asbestos-containing paint deteriorates, it can release fibers into the air.
Call (866) 608-8933 if you or a loved one has mesothelioma. We can help determine your exposure and seek a fair financial payout.
8. Locksmiths
Locksmiths could have suffered exposure when installing or removing locks in buildings containing asbestos.
Locksmiths risked exposure to asbestos in:
- Door panels
- Fireproofing
- Insulation
- Wallboard
Some locksmiths could still face exposure today if proper precautions aren’t taken, since older structures may still contain legacy asbestos.
Our legal partners recovered $1.75 million for a South Carolina man who developed pleural mesothelioma. He had worked as a locksmith, carpenter, and maintenance man, all of which contributed to his asbestos exposure.
9. Talc-Related Exposure
Asbestos and talc are often found near one another in rock deposits. As a result, products using talc could have been contaminated with asbestos. Johnson & Johnson and other companies that made talcum powder knew the dangers but hid them for decades.
Delaware resident Michael Galliher was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working with asbestos-laced talc in a ceramics plant for 30 years. However, he had no idea how he was exposed to asbestos until he met with his legal team.
Simmons Hanly Conroy traced the asbestos fibers found in his lungs to a mine owned by talc producer R.T. Vanderbilt. The firm secured $2.86 million for Michael’s family through a talcum powder lawsuit. This was the largest asbestos verdict in Delaware in over 10 years.
10. Secondhand Exposure From Loved Ones
Many mesothelioma cases don’t stem from direct contact with asbestos, but from secondary exposure.
Factory workers, plumbers, and other laborers were frequently exposed to asbestos-laden dust on the job. At the end of the day, their clothing, skin, hair, and even lunchboxes could be contaminated with microscopic asbestos fibers.
Unfortunately, they unknowingly put their family members in danger when they came home each day.
“Andrew obtained mesothelioma from secondhand exposure. His mom would come home and wash their clothes all together. The fragments of asbestos were embedded in the clothing of not just his dad but all of their siblings.”
Did you develop mesothelioma from secondhand or nontraditional asbestos exposure? Get a Free Case Review today to understand your legal rights and potential compensation.
How a Lawyer Can Help Identify Your Exposure
Since mesothelioma takes 10-50 years to develop after asbestos exposure, you may not know when, where, or how you came into contact with this toxic mineral.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can take on this burden for you, tracing your work history and identifying potential products that caused your cancer.
Simmons Hanly Conroy, our partner law firm, has decades of experience determining exposure and securing fair asbestos payouts for mesothelioma patients.
The firm’s attorneys have access to:
- A warehouse of evidence related to the asbestos industry
- A database of asbestos products and manufacturers
- Records of buildings and work sites that contained asbestos
The firm’s attorneys and expert investigators will work tirelessly to build the strongest claim possible — and you don’t have to do anything but share your story.
Each time we met, I got more informed about the companies involved and everything else.”
Find Out How You Were Exposed
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you probably have plenty of questions, especially if you don’t know how you were exposed to asbestos in the first place.
Mesothelioma Hope and our legal partners at Simmons Hanly Conroy will walk with you through your cancer journey. We can help you access medical resources needed to fight this cancer, pinpoint your asbestos exposure, and work hard to bring those responsible to justice.
Many other patients who have worked with Simmons Hanly Conroy have received over $1 million in legal compensation. Most clients start receiving their first payouts in 90 days or less, helping them cover treatment costs and keep their families secure moving forward.
Get a Free Case Review or call (866) 608-8933 now to find out if we can help you or a loved one.
