Auto Mechanics and Asbestos
If you worked as an auto mechanic before the early 1980s, you could have been exposed to a cancer-causing material called asbestos. Asbestos was used in brakes, insulation, and many other car products for decades. Asbestos could cause lung cancer 10-50 years later. We can help you explore treatments and compensation options if you developed lung cancer after working as a mechanic.
Mechanics and Asbestos Lung Cancer Risks Explained
If you worked as an automotive mechanic prior to the early 1980s, you were likely exposed to asbestos in materials like brake pads, clutches, and gaskets. Asbestos was often used in the automotive industry since it kept car parts durable and well-insulated.
But, you may not have known that asbestos could cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other health problems. This is because manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the health risks to make money.
It’s believed that over 99% of mechanics risked exposure to asbestos, and even being exposed once can cause cancer later in life. Today, thousands of mechanics have gone on to develop asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer as a result of exposure that occurred on the job decades ago.
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide if you or a loved one is facing lung cancer and worked as a mechanic. You’ll learn everything you need to know about being diagnosed, accessing treatment, and getting compensation to cover expenses.
- Understand risk factors
- Find top treatments
- Pursue compensation
Auto Mechanics and Asbestos Exposure Risks
If you or someone you love is an auto mechanic diagnosed with lung cancer, it’s important to understand that asbestos exposure may have caused or contributed to your diagnosis.
Auto mechanics like you may have worked with asbestos-containing car parts on an everyday basis. Installing, repairing, and replacing parts like brake pads and gaskets could have released asbestos fibers and dust. Breathing in this dust could cause fibers to become trapped in your lungs, leading to harm over time.
Asbestos is now considered a carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, you likely didn’t know this if you were a mechanic before the 1980s, since manufacturers of asbestos car parts concealed the risks.
Asbestos-Containing Products Used by Auto Mechanics
You could have been exposed to many different asbestos-containing materials while working as a car mechanic before the dangers of asbestos were fully understood.
Notable car parts that used asbestos included:
- Brake pads and linings: These used asbestos to help reduce friction during braking. Asbestos accounted for as much as 70% of these components by weight, according to Critical Reviews in Toxicology.
- Clutches: Asbestos accounted for up to 60% of the friction materials used in clutches through the 1980s. Working on clutches could have released these fibers into the air.
- Gaskets: Manufacturers used asbestos in car gaskets for its heat resistance and durability. In fact, gaskets contained up to 90% asbestos by weight up through 1990.
Other notable asbestos-containing materials that you may have been exposed to include insulation, transmission materials, torque valves, valve rings, brake shoes, heat seals, and hood liners.
Even being exposed once to asbestos fibers could put you at risk of developing lung cancer later in life. That said, you were likely exposed on a regular basis if you worked as a mechanic through daily tasks like brake maintenance.
Call (877) 446-5767 if you worked as a mechanic and are now suffering from lung cancer. We can walk with you through your diagnosis, help you explore treatments, and pursue compensation if eligible.
Auto Mechanics and Asbestos Exposure on the Job
Many different types of occupations in the automotive industry could have put you or those you love at risk of exposure to asbestos-containing components.
Automotive jobs with the highest risk included:
- Brake technicians
- Clutch repair workers
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Mechanics
- Painters
- Salespeople
- Service station workers
- Supervisors
- Warehousemen
Many people working in these jobs remember handling parts like gaskets and brake pads every day, releasing dust that exposed them to asbestos.
“We did a lot of grinding with sandpaper and stuff to prepare the asbestos brakes that we put in. We had brake dust everywhere. We didn’t know any better.”
– Art Putt, auto mechanic exposed to asbestos
It wasn’t just people who made their living as motor vehicle mechanics who were at risk, though. Hobbyists or home mechanics who worked on cars were also in danger of exposure as they made repairs. Some could be exposed even today while working on older cars that have leftover asbestos parts.
Loved ones of mechanics could have also suffered secondary asbestos exposure. This happened when mechanics came home with asbestos dust and fibers stuck to their skin or clothes. Many family members of mechanics have since gone on to develop lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses as a result.
Auto Mechanics and Asbestos Health Problems
Automotive mechanics exposed to asbestos can potentially go on to develop serious health issues, including cancer, later in life.
Asbestos-related diseases that affect mechanics include:
- Asbestos lung cancer: Mechanics may develop lung cancer if they breathed in asbestos dust. They’re more likely to develop lung cancer if they smoked and were also exposed to asbestos.
- Mesothelioma: This is a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the body. The only known cause of malignant mesothelioma is asbestos.
- Asbestosis: This is a non-cancerous but very serious lung disease. It develops after asbestos fibers damage the lungs over several decades, making breathing more difficult as time goes on.
Asbestos-related diseases like these can affect entire families. For example, John Panza Jr. was diagnosed with mesothelioma when he was just in his 30s. His cancer was linked back to secondary asbestos exposure from his father, who worked on brake pads for over 30 years before dying from lung cancer in his 50s.
However, if you’ve been diagnosed, it’s important to understand that treatments are available for all of these diseases to potentially help you live longer. In addition, you may qualify for compensation to help cover your medical expenses.
Compensation for Automotive Industry Workers with Lung Cancer
If you or a loved one developed asbestos lung cancer while working in the automotive industry, you may be eligible for legal compensation.
Legal options for automotive industry workers with lung cancer include:
- Asbestos trust funds allow you to get money from asbestos companies without filing a lawsuit. There is over $30 billion available in trusts today, and you may qualify for some of this money with a claim.
- Asbestos lung cancer lawsuits can award over $1 million in some cases. These lawsuits are filed against manufacturers of asbestos-containing products that hid the dangers.
- VA benefits could be available if you’re a veteran with lung cancer and were exposed to asbestos as a military mechanic. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may consider lung cancer to be a service-related health issue.
We work with lung cancer attorneys who have recovered millions of dollars for mechanics and loved ones affected by asbestos-related diseases. For instance, our attorneys secured a $1.36 million payout for a California mechanic suffering from lung cancer.
The attorneys in our network will handle all the legal work for you, allowing you to seek the compensation you deserve with less stress. Get a free case review now to find out if you qualify for lung cancer payouts.
- Access Financial Aid and Justice
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- Contact Us for Free
Auto Mechanics and Asbestos: Get Help Now
If you or someone you love worked as an auto mechanic and now has lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another serious disease, it could be due to asbestos exposure.
You never deserved to get sick from simply doing your job — but you and thousands of others are now facing cancer through no fault of your own. Lung Cancer Group is ready to support you and your family during your cancer fight, making things a little bit easier for you.
Our team can help you:
- Understand your cancer treatment options
- Pursue compensation for health care bills
- Access resources to help make life with cancer easier
Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide or call (877) 446-5767 now to find out how we can assist you or an auto mechanic you love who is facing asbestos-related cancer.
Auto Mechanics and Asbestos FAQs
Are car mechanics exposed to asbestos?
Yes, car mechanics had an increased risk of exposure to asbestos up through the early 1980s. This is because automotive parts like brakes, gaskets, and clutch parts often contained asbestos.
Mechanics who were exposed to asbestos-containing products could go on to develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases 10 to 50 years later. Mechanics didn’t know the health risks of asbestos exposure as they were hidden by manufacturers.
What are the asbestos-related diseases in automobile mechanics?
Automotive mechanics could potentially develop a wide range of diseases decades after being exposed to asbestos on the job. These include asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
While it can be scary and frustrating to know you have an asbestos-caused illness, it’s also important to know that medical care from experienced doctors could help you live longer.
Where is asbestos found in an automotive shop?
Asbestos could be found anywhere in automotive shops and garages before the 1980s. Prior to this time period, asbestos was a standard material in many car parts.
Asbestos could be found in car parts like:
- Brake linings and pads
- Clutches
- Engines
- Gaskets
- Insulation
- Transmissions
As mechanics worked on these components, they could release asbestos dust and fibers into the air of auto repair shops, putting anyone nearby in danger of developing cancer later in life.
When did they stop using asbestos in auto parts?
Most major manufacturers stopped using asbestos in auto parts starting in the late 1970s and continuing through the 1990s due to health concerns. Most cars today no longer use asbestos-containing car parts.
However, many manufacturers who were exposed to asbestos-containing car parts before the dangers were known are still getting sick with lung cancer and other illnesses today. This is because it takes decades for asbestos-related diseases to form after exposure.
Call (877) 446-5767 for help finding treatments and pursuing compensation to cover expenses if you or a loved one is a mechanic suffering from an asbestos-related illness.
Are mechanics at risk for lung cancer?
Yes, mechanics are at a high risk of lung cancer. While many mechanics develop lung cancer due to smoking, asbestos is another common cause.
Virtually all auto mechanics were exposed to some asbestos, according to a 50-year study. There’s no safe level of exposure according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Asbestos actually makes it more likely for smokers to get sick with lung cancer.
Do mechanics get mesothelioma?
Yes, mechanics often develop mesothelioma. Only asbestos causes mesothelioma, and many mechanics were exposed on a daily basis when they worked on brake pads, transmissions, gaskets, and more.
Mesothelioma is aggressive, but you or a mechanic you love could live longer with the right medical care. Contact us now to get help after a diagnosis.
Are clutches still made of asbestos?
New clutches used in cars do not contain asbestos in the present day. However, you or a former mechanic you love may have been exposed to asbestos in clutches prior to the early 1980s.
Clutches were made with asbestos to help keep them more durable, but anyone exposed could go on to develop mesothelioma or lung cancer later in life.
