Women and Mesothelioma: Why ‘Unknown’ Asbestos Exposures Should Be a Public Health Priority

Unseen Risks Beyond the Workplace

New research shows that women face disproportionate asbestos dangers outside of traditional job sites, challenging old assumptions about who is at risk.

Asbestos has long been recognized as a powerful carcinogen, linked to deadly illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and asbestosis. Historically, attention has focused primarily on men working in shipyards, construction, and manufacturing where asbestos exposure was routine. However, new research suggests that for women, the picture is far more complicated. A 2025 study[1] published through PubMed reveals that up to 40% of female mesothelioma cases involve no clear occupational exposure to asbestos, compared to a much smaller percentage among men. This finding raises important questions about environmental and secondhand domestic exposure, calling for public health systems to rethink how women’s asbestos risks are tracked and addressed.

Occupational vs. Non-Occupational Exposure

For men, asbestos-related diseases have historically been tied to direct on-the-job contact. Whether handling insulation, cutting brake pads, or employed in asbestos factories, these workers were inundated with toxic airborne fibers on a daily basis. The new study confirms this link. But for women, the study shows, the highest exposure rates have occurred at home. In fact, up to 40% of female study participants with mesothelioma diagnoses had no documented occupational exposure in their background at all. 

Instead, their contact likely came from secondary exposure at home in situations where they were washing contaminated work clothes, living near asbestos-emitting industries, or residing in homes built with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). 

Secondary asbestos exposure (AKA Domestic exposure and Take-Home Exposure)

Asbestos was also a common additive in many household products before its use was greatly restricted, such as in hair care items, cosmetics, children’s toys and kitchenware. And talc-based powders, like those used in bed linens and baby powder, had the potential to be contaminated with asbestos as the two grow closely together, and cultivation sometimes results in cross-contamination.

In general, the study reveals that while workplace protections and regulations have reduced occupational exposure in men, women are still developing mesothelioma at high rates without firsthand contact with these toxic fibers.

The Missing Details of Asbestos Exposure in Women

When exposure pathways are marked as “unknown,” public health programs may be more apt to steer away from the issue, underestimating the actual risk for women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented underreporting of asbestos diseases in women for decades. As a result, screening, compensation, and awareness campaigns tend to be limited in scope and devoid of addressing the core problem. Researchers are calling for better tracking and broader definitions of asbestos exposure that account for household and community-level risks in addition to occupational exposure.

How Asbestos Causes Disease

Scientists agree that all types of asbestos can cause cancer, but the exact step by step process by which this happens remains only partly understood. Once inhaled or ingested, the fibers can travel through the lungs, abdomen, and bloodstream, embedding themselves into internal tissues where they permanently reside. Their needle-like structure irritates cells and creates chronic inflammation, which can lead to genetic mutations. Decades later, this process can result in diseases like mesothelioma, a cancer of the linings of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. [2]

Latency and Legacy

Another concerning feature of asbestos-related diseases  [3] is that they tend to be caught only in the later stages, after the disease has significantly progressed. This is tied to symptom latency, meaning that noticeable symptoms can appear years after exposure. For example, mesothelioma symptoms can take 20 to 60 years to develop. In the case of secondhand exposure, spouses who washed their husband’s contaminated work clothes in the 1970s may only now be facing a diagnosis. This latency complicates detection and leads to poorer prognoses.

Even though asbestos is no longer used as widely, its legacy lives on in old insulation, shingles, tiles, and industrial waste. Renovation or demolition of older buildings continues to release fibers. Women living in these environments may never realize they are at risk until symptoms surface decades later.

The Challenges of Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma remains one of the hardest cancers to treat. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have limited effectiveness because asbestos fibers cannot be removed once embedded in the body. Immunotherapy trials have shown some promise, but for most patients, the prognosis is poor.

Rising Costs of Care

Treatment is not only limited, but expensive. Patients face long hospital stays, repeated procedures, and palliative care. Medical debt remains one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States. Families battling mesothelioma often face both emotional devastation and financial collapse.

One resource available to patients and families is asbestos trust funds. These funds were created by companies forced into bankruptcy because of asbestos liability. Trust claims are typically faster and less burdensome than filling traditional lawsuits and the compensation received can cover medical bills, loss of income, and provide financial stability.

Medical Progress: Improvements Over the Past Two Decades

Although mesothelioma remains resistant to most treatments, medical advances have improved detection and survival in some cases. Developments made in imaging technology have made it easier to spot tumors earlier, and combination therapies have slightly extended life expectancy. Clinical trials into immunotherapy and gene-targeted approaches are ongoing. Public health efforts have also lowered occupational exposure in men, though environmental exposure continues to challenge women’s safety.

For women with known exposure histories, whether through family, environment, or occupation, regular checkups can save lives. Physicians are increasingly recognizing the need to ask about asbestos exposure during routine visits, especially in regions with known industrial use.

Moving Forward: A Priority for Public Health

The new 2025 study confirms that asbestos exposure affects both males and females and can cause harm even when a person is exposed secondhand. With up to 40% of female mesothelioma cases tied to unknown exposure pathways, public health officials face a serious challenge. Mesothelioma is not only difficult to treat but also financially devastating, and the risks for women remain hidden in plain sight.

Better documentation, a broader push for awareness, and expanded definitions of exposure are essential steps in expanding public knowledge of the widespread effects of asbestos use. With stronger monitoring and access to compensation systems, families can find both recognition and support as they confront one of the most devastating legacies of the industrial age, impacting numerous people on the job and at home.

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[1] Patel K, Tuminello S, Taioli E. Sex differences in asbestos exposure. Front Public Health. 2025 May 22;13:1588415. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1588415. PMID: 40475198; PMCID: PMC12137245.

[2] Carbone, M., Ly, B. H., Dodson, R. F., Pagano, I., Morris, P. T., Dogan, U. A., Gazdar, A. F., Pass, H. I., & Yang, H. (2011). Malignant mesothelioma: Facts, myths, and hypotheses. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 227(1), 44–58. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.22724.[3] F Turati, M Rossi, A Spinazzè, E Pira, D M Cavallo, L Patel, C Mensi, C La Vecchia, E Negri, Occupational asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer: updated systematic review, Occupational Medicine, Volume 73, Issue 9, December 2023, Pages 532–540, https://doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqad122.