Indirect exposures: the significance of bystanders at work and at home.

Indirect exposures of adjacent workers occur at work, and family members may be exposed to hazardous substances that are carried home. The significance of such hazard dissemination has been evaluated in studies dealing mostly with asbestos and lead. The general lessons learned from this evidence would suggest that indirect exposures may occur much more commonly than suspected. Thus, improved primary prevention at the workplace also should be aimed at limiting the extent of indirect exposures. In addition, this factor should be taken into account in occupational history-taking and in epidemiological studies.