Asbestos Mining and Milling Lung Cancer Risks

Daily exposure to asbestos in mining and milling occupations was common prior to the early 1980s. This put miners and millers at risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious illnesses. If you or a loved one has developed lung cancer after a career in mining or milling, Lung Cancer Group can help you find treatment and compensation options.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: January 16, 2026

Top Topics:

High-Risk Mining Jobs
Dangerous Mine Sites
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How Asbestos Mining and Exposure Leads to Lung Cancer

Miners extract raw minerals and materials from the ground, and millers refine them into finished products. Both professions exposed workers to asbestos at high rates.

Mining can release asbestos from deposits in the ground, and milling may release more fibers through grinding, sanding, and processing. If miners or millers breathe in these fibers, they could develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other health problems 10-50 years later.

Quick Facts on Lung Cancer from Asbestos in Mining and Milling

Asbestos miners have a nearly 400% higher risk of lung cancer, according to the Canadian Occupational Cancer Research Centre.
Miners and millers risked exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) like asbestos, crystalline silica, diesel exhaust, and radon on an everyday basis.
One of the highest-risk mines was located in Libby, Montana, polluting the entire town. At least 10% of Libby’s population now has asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer.

Miners and millworkers are now developing lung cancer in the present day through no fault of their own. Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide to see which treatment and compensation options may be available for you.

Asbestos Hazards in the Mining Industry

Mining asbestos involved the use of equipment to blast and extract rock and ore formations, which kicked up dust and soot into the air. Since workers didn’t fully understand just how dangerous asbestos was, many of them breathed in this polluted air without notice.

In addition, heavy-duty mining equipment needed to be durable and withstand high temperatures, and between the 1930s and 1980s, a variety of mining tools used asbestos. This is because asbestos-containing materials were fireproof and durable, allowing miners to get more use out of their machines.

Mining and milling equipment that contained asbestos included:

Brakes and brake pads
Cement
Clutches
Drills
Electrical wires
Fireproof board
Gaskets
Insulation
Packing glands
Pipe coverings

As these materials were used, dismantled, or repaired, more asbestos fibers could be released into the air that miners and millworkers breathed in.

High-Risk Asbestos Mining and Exposure Jobs

All miners and millworkers faced an increased risk of occupational exposure to asbestos prior to the early 1980s. However, certain jobs within these industries put workers in danger of daily exposure for long periods.

The mining of asbestos put the following people at high risk of exposure:

Coal miners
Drillers
Mechanics
Millers
Ore miners
Quarrymen
Surveyors
Underground miners
Ventilation technicians

Many of these workers were confined to small areas with poor air circulation. This meant it was easy to breathe in high concentrations of asbestos and other harmful materials.

However, even miners and millers who weren’t mining asbestos directly could have been exposed to the material. This is because asbestos naturally forms alongside other minerals. For example, coal miners are more likely to pass away from lung cancer from breathing in coal mine dust laced with other carcinogens like asbestos, silica, and talc.

Help is available if you or a loved one is suffering from lung cancer after working as a miner or miller. Call (877) 446-5767 to explore treatments, compensation, and other resources.

Secondhand Asbestos Exposure from Mining and Milling

The loved ones of miners and millers were also in danger of asbestos-related diseases due to what’s known as secondhand exposure.

Millers and miners may have carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, or hair. This could expose family members they lived with, leading to instances of lung cancer or mesothelioma years later.

Families living near asbestos mining sites also faced danger. In Libby, Montana, for example, asbestos fibers released from the local mine created lasting contamination. A Nature study found that Libby residents continue to face elevated risks of asbestos-related diseases years after the mine closed.

Mining and Milling Job Sites Contaminated with Asbestos

There were mining and milling job sites throughout the United States that put workers at risk of asbestos exposure. These mines extracted various minerals but especially vermiculite and asbestos for insulation products.

Just a few locations of asbestos mines and asbestos milling facilities included:

Ellwood City, PA
Libby, MT
Los Angeles, CA
Omaha, NE
Spokane, WA
St. Louis, MO
Tampa, FL
West Chicago, IL

Many workers could have been exposed every day at these sites while performing their job duties. However, they didn’t know about the health effects of asbestos. Corporations that made asbestos-containing products and authorized mining activities did know the risks, but hid them for decades to keep profits up.

Health Risks from Asbestos Mining and Exposure

Asbestos-related illnesses such as lung cancer typically develop 10-50 years after initial exposure. Because of this, miners and millworkers exposed on the job decades ago are just getting sick today.

Notable asbestos-related diseases include:

Asbestos lung cancer: Miners and millworkers could go on to develop lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, whether or not they smoked. In fact, cigarette smoking and exposure to asbestos leads to a significantly higher lung cancer incidence, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Asbestosis: This is a non-malignant respiratory disease that causes the lungs to weaken over time. Miners and millworkers are among those with the highest risk of asbestosis, per the Mayo Clinic.
Mesothelioma: The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. This is a very rare cancer that affects the linings of different body parts, most notably the lungs.
Other health problems: Pleural effusions (fluid buildup in the lung lining), COPD, silicosis, pneumoconiosis, fibrosis, and other respiratory diseases can all impact miners and millworkers exposed to asbestos and other harmful materials.

If you’re worried about your health after asbestos mining and exposure, talk to your doctor about preventative steps. Lung cancer screenings and other follow-up options may be able to help detect illnesses before they’re causing symptoms, making them easier to treat.

Compensation for Diseases Related to Asbestos Mining and Exposure

Mining, milling, and coal workers diagnosed with lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases may be able to pursue compensation to help pay for medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Legal options to explore after asbestos mining and exposure include:

Asbestos lung cancer lawsuits: Filed against manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, these lawsuits can sometimes recover $1 million or more. In one instance, a former Libby miner received $36.5 million through a lawsuit. He had developed numerous lung diseases as a result of asbestos exposure at the mine.
Asbestos trust fund claims: These trust funds allow eligible people to access compensation without pursuing a lawsuit. There’s over $30 billion still available in trusts today.
VA claims and benefits: U.S. veterans may have been exposed to asbestos during their service in a variety of military occupations, including mining. VA benefits can provide over $4,000 in monthly compensation for these families affected.
Wrongful death lawsuits: For family members who have lost their loved ones from lung cancer or other asbestos-related illnesses after a career in mining and milling, these lawsuits can potentially bring them justice and over $1 million in compensation.

After a lung cancer diagnosis, partnering with experienced asbestos lung cancer attorneys can make navigating compensation options as stress-free as possible. They have the knowledge and the resources to make sure you get the highest compensation for your case so you can focus on treatment.

Get a free case review now for help pursuing compensation if you’re facing asbestos lung cancer.

Find Support for Asbestos Miners and Millworkers With Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure has led to a public health crisis, with former miners and millworkers being diagnosed with illnesses like lung cancer today. These illnesses upend the lives of families, bringing uncertainty at a time when former workers should be enjoying much-deserved retirement.

We are here to support former miners and millworkers who are now facing asbestos lung cancer, making the road ahead a little easier

At Lung Cancer Group, our team can help you:

Determine if asbestos caused your illness
Find treatment options
Pursue financial compensation for expenses
Receive support through this difficult time

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 to speak with our team right now.

Asbestos Mining and Exposure FAQs

Are miners exposed to asbestos?

Yes, miners who worked before the early 1980s were likely exposed to asbestos. This is because asbestos is naturally found alongside other valuable minerals in rock deposits. Also, the equipment that miners used often contained asbestos as well.

Lung cancer mortality rates among mine workers exposed to asbestos remain high in the present day as a result of these factors.

Is it safe to live near an asbestos mine?

It was not safe to live near asbestos mines that were active decades ago. Mining activities could send asbestos fibers flying into the air, putting anyone nearby at risk.

The town of Libby, Montana, was centered on an asbestos mine and pollution was widespread. Over 1 million yards of soil contained asbestos in Libby, affecting homes, schools, playgrounds, and even the water supply. As a result, 1 in 10 Libby residents has an asbestos-related illness today.

If you are currently living near an old mine site that isn’t active, you are likely not in significant danger unless mining operations resume.

What are the asbestos hazards in the mining industry?

Asbestos mining and exposure can lead to very serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, 10-50 years later. Their risk is greater than the general population due to their routine exposure.

We are here to help if you are someone you love who has an asbestos-related disease like lung cancer. Contact us now for assistance with treatment, compensation for health care costs, and more.

Who is the largest miner and exporter of asbestos?

Hundreds of companies were involved with asbestos mining and exposure activities, but one of the most prominent in the U.S. was Johns Manville. Other notable names include Zonolite, which operated the infamous vermiculite mine near Libby, Montana. In 2025, the world’s largest exporter of asbestos was Brazil.

Does the U.S. still mine asbestos?

No. The U.S. stopped mining asbestos in 2002 due to the risk factors, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also enforced a new ban on importing new asbestos materials in 2024.

Older asbestos mine sites are still scattered throughout America, with those that pose a threat to human health being blocked off from the public or actively being renovated.