Tire and Rubber Workers and Asbestos Exposure

Workers in tire and rubber manufacturing may have unknowingly been exposed to dangerous materials including asbestos. As a result, they are at a higher risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma through no fault of their own. Former tire and rubber industry workers do not have to navigate a diagnosis alone. Our team can help you explore treatment and compensation options.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: January 26, 2026

Top Topics:

Asbestos Exposure Risks
High-Risk Jobs
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Asbestos Lung Cancer Risks Among Tire and Rubber Workers

From the 1930s to the early 1980s, asbestos was added to tires and other rubber products to make them heat-resistant and durable at a low cost. This meant that tire and rubber workers could have risked occupational exposure to asbestos fibers.

Breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers and dust could cause serious health issues like lung cancer, 10-50 years after the fact. Many of those who served in the tire and rubber industry decades ago are now being diagnosed in the present day due to this occupational health hazard.

Asbestos Exposure and Tire and Rubber Workers Quick Facts

Asbestos rubber gaskets, sheets, insulation, and more were just a few ways tire workers risked exposure.
Asbestos rubber plants used thousands of pounds of asbestos. At one Illinois plant, 5,000 pounds of asbestos were used daily.
In addition to asbestos, tire and rubber workers risked exposure to benzene, silica, carbon black, solvents, and radon, all of which can cause cancer, per the .
Notable tire and rubber companies that exposed their workers to asbestos and other toxic chemicals included Goodyear and the United Asbestos & Rubber Company (UNARCO).
Tire and rubber workers had an 8% increased risk of lung cancer according to The International Journal of Epidemiology.

If you developed lung cancer after working in the tire and rubber industry, help is available. Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide for more information about lung cancer treatment and compensation.

How Tire and Rubber Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos

In the tire and rubber industry, high concentrations of asbestos were commonly used in the manufacturing process and the equipment, putting workers at risk of exposure every day.

Some tire and rubber asbestos products include:

Asbestos rubber sheets
Belts
Brake linings
Ceiling and floor tile
Hoses
Insulation
Linings for high-temperature machinery
Pads
Presses
Seals
Steam pipes
Talc used to dust tire molds
Vulcanization ovens

In many rubber factories, workers had to handle raw asbestos so it could be processed into different materials used to make tires. This involved ripping bags containing many pounds of asbestos open and grinding it down, creating clouds of dust. Many former employers remember asbestos falling like snow in rubber and tire plants, according to the Center for Public Integrity.

“There would be dust when they first opened the bags and shook them, and then it would go through a blower to lift it up and blow it down into the building. I worked on the day shift, and there was a beam of light that would come through the window. The asbestos looked like millions of diamonds in the air.”

— Otto, former asbestos rubber plant worker

Tire and Rubber Workers and Asbestos Exposure: High-Risk Roles

Workers in the rubber and tire manufacturing industry faced exposure to asbestos in almost every role because the dust was so thick and widespread in plants. However, some jobs may have exposed workers at even higher rates.

Tire and rubber jobs most at risk of asbestos exposure included:

Mechanics who repaired or replaced asbestos-containing parts on tire and rubber equipment
Pipefitters who worked around with asbestos insulation and equipment
Rubber mixers who handled raw rubber compounds and asbestos-containing fillers
Tire builders and molders who dusted asbestos-contaminated talc onto equipment

Additionally, some tire and rubber companies may have exposed workers to more asbestos than others. Some of the most prominent manufacturers of asbestos rubber were Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company based in Akron, Ohio, and UNARCO in Bloomington, Illinois.

However, tire and rubber workers didn’t realize that asbestos components were harmful. This is because tire companies like Goodyear, General Tire, B.F. Goodrich, and more hid the dangers of asbestos-containing materials for years to make significant profits.

“The rubber industry was full of cancer-causing agents. They knew benzene was bad. They knew asbestos was bad. I mean, these companies aren’t stupid, but they refused to do anything about it.”

— Jack Hefner, rubber and steelworker union leader

Call (877) 446-5767 for help if you or someone you love worked in the tire and rubber industry and now has lung cancer. We’re ready to review treatment and compensation options with you.

Tire and Rubber Workers and Asbestos Exposure Among Families

Family members of tire and rubber workers may have been exposed to asbestos, too. This is because the contaminated dust that filled the air of tire and rubber plants would settle on workers’ hair and clothing.

Upon returning home, the asbestos fibers could be spread around the house, putting loved ones at an everyday risk of exposure.

“Before washing his work clothes my mom would stand at the back door and shake his clothes, and the dust would just fly. He would come home exhausted from work and sit down, and we would sit on his lap and wrestle around, picking little flakes of asbestos off his clothes. It was on everything.”

— Terry, son of former asbestos rubber plant worker

As a result of this secondhand exposure, families of former tire and rubber workers have gone on to develop mesothelioma and other serious cancers, even though they didn’t directly handle asbestos-containing materials themselves.

Health Risks For Tire and Rubber Workers and Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos, once breathed in, can settle into the body and cause irritation over 10-50 years. That irritation can trigger lung cancer and other serious conditions.

Asbestos-related occupational diseases that impact tire and rubber workers include:

Lung cancer: Asbestos exposure is a big risk factor for lung cancer. Exposure also worsens the effects that smoking does to the lungs.
Asbestosis: While not cancerous, this chronic lung condition limits lung function over time. There’s a high incidence of asbestosis among tire and rubber workers.
Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive type of cancer caused by asbestos in which tumors develop in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
Other diseases: Former asbestos rubber workers could go on to develop COPD, prostate cancer, leukemia, stomach cancer, lymphoma, and bladder cancer as a result of chemical exposures they suffered on the job.

People who work in the tire and rubber manufacturing industry should talk with their doctor about routine lung cancer screening. Screenings can help detect asbestos lung cancer early when treatments may be more effective and improve life expectancy.

Compensation for Asbestos Exposure and Tire and Rubber Workers

Manufacturers hid the dangers of asbestos-containing products for decades, but thankfully workers can seek justice. Tire and rubber industry workers who have developed lung cancer or another type of asbestos-related illness may be eligible for financial compensation.

This compensation is vital for those facing heavy expenses related to their illness, such as medical bills, lost wages, and support to family members or caregivers.

Legal options for tire rubber industry workers with lung cancer include:

Asbestos lung cancer lawsuits: These lawsuits hold the companies responsible for exposing workers to dangerous asbestos-containing materials. One worker who developed mesothelioma from asbestos rubber gaskets received a historic $40.1 million verdict from his lawsuit.
Asbestos trust fund claims: These claims allow patients to get compensation without a lawsuit. There is over $30 billion still available in trusts today.
VA benefits claims: Former rubber workers who are also U.S. military veterans may also be entitled to benefits, providing them over $4,000 per month for cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Wrongful death lawsuits: Surviving family members of rubber workers who passed from asbestos-related diseases can pursue justice through these lawsuits and potentially recover over $1 million in compensation.

To ensure you get the most out of these compensation options, it’s best to partner with experienced asbestos lung cancer lawyers. They have the resources and knowledge to make the process as stress-free as possible while still securing the most compensation possible for each case.

Get a free case review now for help determining if you qualify for financial compensation after an asbestos lung cancer diagnosis.

Helping Tire and Rubber Workers With Lung Cancer

Every year, many former tire and rubber workers across the country go on to develop serious illnesses like lung cancer as a result of their asbestos exposure.

While we can’t give them their health back, Lung Cancer Group stands ready to assist patients and their families through this challenging time.

Our team can help you:

Explore common treatments for lung cancer
Learn more about how asbestos was used at your job
Pursue compensation for asbestos lung cancer
Receive the support that you need

Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 to speak with us now and get the resources that you deserve.

Tire and Rubber Workers and Asbestos Exposure FAQs

Do tires contain asbestos?

Yes, older tires made before the early 1980s contain asbestos. All of the “Big Four” tire manufacturing companies used asbestos in the process of making tires, including Goodyear, B.F. Goodrich, General Tire, and Firestone.

This meant that many tire and rubber plant workers risked exposure to asbestos everyday, putting them at a very high risk of occupational cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma later in life.

Is it bad to breathe in tire rubber?

Yes, it’s bad to breathe in tire rubber as it contains harmful chemicals. While you have a low risk of getting sick if you’re only exposed to tire rubber on rare occasions, you could be in danger if you worked at a tire or rubber plant for a long span of time.

You likely breathed in air polluted with asbestos, benzene, and other carcinogens or cancer-causing chemicals, increasing the odds of developing lung cancer long after the fact.

Call (877) 446-5767 if you’re facing lung cancer and ever worked at a tire or rubber plant. We’re here to help you pursue financial compensation and explore treatment options.

Is asbestos in rubber?

Yes, there is asbestos in older rubber materials. Between the 1930s and 1980s, asbestos may have been added to various rubber products and in equipment used in rubber manufacturing. Its heat resistance and durability made it a popular additive in hundreds of products.

In tire production, workers may have also encountered asbestos-contaminated talc that would be dusted on tire molds to help release the rubber from the mold.

What are the health hazards in the rubber industry?

Former tire and rubber workers could develop health problems like lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma from routine or regular exposure to toxins at their work environments.

This is because of the high risk of exposure to toxins like asbestos while working, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Can you sue if exposed to asbestos at work?

Yes, tire rubber and rubber tire industry workers can sue for asbestos exposure if they developed lung cancer or another asbestos-related disease.

In most instances, lawsuits are filed against the companies responsible for making the asbestos-containing products and materials that the worker was exposed to. They can sometimes recover $1 million or more in compensation for their families.