Lung Cancer & Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
If you worked in construction zones, factories, or shipyards before the early 1980s, you risked daily exposure to asbestos. Asbestos can cause you to develop lung cancer or other serious diseases today. Thankfully, you can pursue justice and compensation if you got sick from occupational asbestos exposure.
What Is Occupational Asbestos Exposure?
Occupational asbestos exposure is when workers come in contact with asbestos fibers while performing their job duties. Over 27 million workers were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
Before the early 1980s, workers didn’t fully understand that asbestos exposure could cause life-threatening health problems like lung cancer or mesothelioma. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the risks to make money.
You could be at risk of asbestos lung cancer if you worked as a:
- Boilermaker
- Construction worker
- Electrician
- Factory worker
- Firefighter
- Mechanic
- Plumber
- Shipyard worker
- U.S. military service member
Asbestos lung cancer is very aggressive, but help is available. You may be able to get financial compensation and justice if you develop lung cancer or other asbestos diseases. Learn more in our Free Lung Cancer Guide.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Which Occupations Are Most at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?
A wide range of jobs could have put you in danger of occupational exposure to asbestos. Many workers like you had to handle asbestos products on a daily basis, releasing fibers into the air that could be breathed in or swallowed.
Learn about just a few of the many high-risk asbestos exposure jobs below.
Asbestos Exposure in Boilermakers
Before the 1980s, boilermakers used asbestos-containing products to keep boilers operating under high pressure and temperatures, since asbestos was heat-resistant. Boilermakers often worked in cramped spaces, so they could easily inhale asbestos fibers that entered the air during repairs or installations.
Boilermaker asbestos mortality rates are high, according to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Many former boilermakers have passed away from asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis.
Asbestos & Construction Worker Risks
Occupational exposure to asbestos was common for construction workers. Offices, homes, military bases, and many more structures were built using asbestos-containing materials.
Just a few building materials that contained asbestos were:
- Caulking
- Cement
- Ceiling and floor tiles
- Drywall
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Paint
- Roofing materials
- Valves
- Wallboard
“I worked 40 years in the construction business. I was exposed to asbestos through sheetrock, the mud, through gaskets, in piping, through respirators, cartridges, and filters all through my career.”
— John Stahl, retired construction worker with mesothelioma
Working with any asbestos-containing materials could send asbestos dust flying. Those in the construction industry today could also be at risk, as many older buildings still have asbestos inside.
Electricians and Asbestos
Asbestos exposure in electricians was common since this material was heat-resistant and reduced the risk of electrical fires.
Asbestos was used in electrical wire insulation, motor controllers, circuit boards, and other equipment for decades. Electricians also risked occupational exposure to asbestos from insulation in buildings as they removed or installed electrical components.
Exposure to Asbestos in Factory Workers
Factory workers across the country may have worked directly with asbestos-containing products or operated equipment built with asbestos-containing parts.
At one time, the town of Cloquet, Minnesota had a lung cancer rate 36% higher than the general public due to occupational exposure to asbestos. Many of the town’s residents worked in a factory owned by Conwed, which used asbestos to make ceiling tile and mineral board.
The factory workers used bags of asbestos on the job, which coated their clothing and the cars they drove home in. A former employee stated he didn’t believe “anybody could have worked in worse conditions.”
Firefighter Asbestos Exposure
Firefighters could have faced occupational exposure to asbestos if an older building caught on fire. Any asbestos fibers inside could get picked up by the smoke that firefighters breathed in.
Fire engines and stations may have also been built with asbestos-containing products prior to the 1980s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that firefighters are twice as likely to develop malignant mesothelioma due to these risks.
Get help for asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Call (877) 446-5767 right now.
Mechanics Exposed to Asbestos
Many plane and auto mechanics likely suffered from occupational exposure to asbestos on a daily basis before the early 1980s. Asbestos was used in plane and car parts since it reduced friction and heat.
Asbestos-containing parts used by mechanics included:
- Brakes and brake pads
- Clutch components
- Engine gaskets
- Hood liners
- Insulation
- Wires
“We did a lot of grinding with sandpaper to prepare brake pads we put in and new ones. We had dust everywhere. We didn’t know any better.”
— Art Putt, mechanic and veteran with mesothelioma
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has regulations in place to keep modern-day mechanics safe from occupational exposure to asbestos since older vehicles may still contain asbestos parts.
Asbestos Plumbers and Pipefitters
Pipefitters and plumbers often worked on pipes, insulation, and boilers that contained asbestos. Part of their job duties included removing old components and installing new ones. These activities could kick up asbestos dust.
Plumber and pipefitters may be at risk of asbestos exposure even now if they have to work on older structures that still contain asbestos. WaterWorld Magazine estimated that nearly 600,000 asbestos-containing water pipes were still in use in the U.S. and Canada as of 2019.
Shipyard Workers
Shipyards were some of the most dangerous work sites for occupational exposure to asbestos. One-third of all mesothelioma cases today involve U.S. Navy personnel or shipyard workers.
Shipyard workers had to install asbestos-containing ship products like piping, insulation, turbines, and gaskets, and repair or remove them if they wore out.
“The people with the heaviest exposure are those who worked in asbestos industries, such as shipbuilding and insulation. Many of these people recall working in thick clouds of asbestos dust, day after day.”
— The American Cancer Society
A lung cancer diagnosis after working in shipyards can be devastating, but help is available. Contact us to get the support you need for asbestos lung cancer.
Asbestos and Veterans
Many U.S. veterans are also at an increased risk of lung cancer and asbestos-related illnesses. All branches of the U.S. military heavily relied on asbestos between the 1930s and the early 1980s in bases, ships, planes, and vehicles.
Asbestos was used by U.S. military branches like the:
The U.S. Navy used more asbestos than any other military branch. Miles of asbestos-containing insulation, pipe, and cable were used throughout its vessels. Thousands of boilers, turbines, and gaskets aboard these ships used asbestos too.
The highest-risk veterans worked with asbestos as part of their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). The VA lists 50 military jobs where occupational exposure to asbestos was “probable” or “highly probable.”
Our team is standing by to help U.S. veterans and anyone else who’s developed asbestos lung cancer or other related diseases. Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide to learn more.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Secondhand Exposure
The health risks of occupational exposure to asbestos weren’t limited to workers. Asbestos fibers could stick to workers’ hair and clothing. The workers could then bring the fibers home with them and expose their loved ones.
Julie Gundlach developed mesothelioma in her mid-30s due to secondhand asbestos exposure. Her father worked as an electrician for 40 years and died of asbestos lung cancer just a year before Julie’s diagnosis.
“My father would come home from work, and I’d run up and hug him. He was covered in dust from a worksite. We didn’t know that included asbestos dust.”
— Julie, Mesothelioma Patient
Other Occupations Exposed to Asbestos
The occupations listed above were only a few that put workers at risk of lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.
Other jobs with a risk of occupational exposure to asbestos included:
- Carpenters
- First responders
- Heavy equipment operators
- HVAC operators
- Insulation workers
- Metal and iron workers
- Miners and millers
- Tire and rubber workers
Anyone who worked with asbestos-containing materials in these jobs is at risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma in the present day.
High-Risk Asbestos Job Sites
Thousands of work sites around the world put hardworking people in danger of occupational exposure to asbestos every day.
Sites with a risk of occupational asbestos exposure include:
- Chemical plants
- Construction sites
- Factories
- Mines
- Oil refineries
- Power plants
- Shipyards
Our team can see if your cancer diagnosis was linked to occupational exposure to asbestos with our database of high-risk asbestos work sites. Get a free case review now to learn more.
Help for Lung Cancer From Occupational Exposure to Asbestos
The use of asbestos has put millions of workers and their family members at risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases. But help is available so those affected can pursue justice and financial compensation.
Lung Cancer Group is ready to assist you and your family if you’re grappling with an unexpected illness linked to occupational exposure to asbestos.
Our team can help you:
- Determine if asbestos caused your lung cancer
- Explore treatments that could help you live longer
- Pursue compensation for lung cancer expenses
- Receive other essential resources
Hardworking people like you and your loved ones never deserved to be put at risk of lung cancer and other illnesses. Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 now to get the support that you deserve.
Occupational Exposure to Lung Cancer FAQs
What if I was exposed to asbestos at work?
If you were exposed to asbestos at work, you’re at a higher risk of cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer, as well as noncancerous illnesses like asbestosis.
Your family members also could be in danger due to secondary exposure to asbestos, as you could have brought the fibers home with you on your clothing or skin.
What are the occupational exposure limits for asbestos?
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure at a job site. Even low levels of occupational exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer or other diseases later in life.
However, those who worked around asbestos on a regular basis for years or decades at their job sites are at greater risk than the general population.
If I was exposed to asbestos at work can I sue?
Yes, you may qualify to file a lung cancer lawsuit if you’ve gotten sick as a result of occupational exposure to asbestos. These lawsuits sometimes award $1 million or more, allowing you to afford medical expenses and other unexpected costs.
Call (877) 446-5767 to find out if you can file a lawsuit if you’ve developed lung cancer and were ever exposed to asbestos at your job.
How do the dangers of asbestos affect workers?
If you worked with or around asbestos, it probably didn’t affect you right away. Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period (time between exposure and symptoms). It takes 10-50 years before lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other diseases appear after you were exposed.
This means you’re at a high risk of getting sick long after you worked with asbestos — when you should be enjoying your retirement with your family.
If you developed lung cancer or mesothelioma, we can help you pursue compensation for treatments and other bills. Contact us to get started.
What are jobs that can cause mesothelioma?
Some of the jobs that can cause mesothelioma include construction work, shipyard work, boilermaking, and military service. These jobs meant that you risked daily exposure to asbestos-containing materials.
The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos. Since so many jobs relied on products with this toxic substance, many cases are linked back to occupational exposure to asbestos.
Can occupational asbestos-related lung cancer be prevented?
There’s no way to completely prevent asbestos-related lung cancer or other diseases if you were already exposed to asbestos at your job. That said, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk factors.
First, make sure to tell your doctor about your on-the-job asbestos exposure. This will help them to be on the lookout for signs of asbestos-related diseases. You might also want to get regular lung cancer screenings to catch tumors before they cause symptoms.
Finally, consider quitting smoking. Smoking is the biggest risk factor for lung cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that combined asbestos exposure and smoking greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.
