Insulators Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos was commonly used in insulation products, putting insulators unknowingly at risk of lung cancer and other serious illnesses. If you’ve been diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer and worked as an insulator, we can help you learn more about your medical and legal options.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: October 10, 2025

Top Topics:

How Exposure Happened
High-Risk Jobs
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Why Insulators Are at Risk of Asbestos Lung Cancer

If you worked as an insulator prior to the early 1980s, you were at a very high risk of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was commonly used to insulate homes and attics, pipes, boilers, and more since it was fireproof, durable, and cheap.

You could have been exposed every day while working on insulation materials. However, you didn’t know that breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers could cause you to develop lung cancer or other serious cancers later in life.

Insulators and Asbestos Exposure Quick Facts

Nearly 20% of insulation workers died from lung cancer, according to The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. The risk of death increased among insulators who smoked and also were exposed to asbestos.
In the same report above, nearly one in three insulators who passed away in their 50s died from lung cancer.
Asbestos pipe insulation workers had a higher risk of dying from lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other respiratory cancers as noted by The Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Insulators still risk asbestos exposure when working in older buildings or structures.

Help is available if you developed lung cancer and were exposed to asbestos while working as an insulator. Get our Free Lung Cancer Guide for information on asbestos, treatment, and compensation options.

How Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos Insulation

You could have been exposed to asbestos when handling, cutting, or removing insulation products. These activities released toxic asbestos fibers and dust into the air. You may have also worked in tight spaces with poor airflow where breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers was almost unavoidable.

Insulators like you may have been exposed to:

Asbestos attic insulation used in thousands of homes built before the dangers were understood
Asbestos pipe insulation to protect pipes and ductwork from bursting or degrading
Loose-fill asbestos insulation to regulate temperatures
Rigid asbestos block insulation cut for foundations and shipbuilding
Spray-on insulation like popcorn ceiling or other spray texturizing

Did You Know?

Many insulators worked with vermiculite insulation with asbestos before the health risks were known. Vermiculite insulation was also known by its brand name Zolonite and was often used in attics. Many of it was sourced from Libby, Montana, a town known for its high rates of asbestos-related diseases today.

While even being exposed just once could cause lung cancer, you were at a very high risk of exposure since you may have worked with asbestos-containing products every day as an insulator.

Jobs At Risk of Exposure to Asbestos in Insulation

Insulators worked at job sites across the country, helping on construction sites, shipyards, factories, and many more places. Any insulator employed before the early 1980s likely came in contact with asbestos-containing materials at some point.

Occupational insulators exposed to asbestos include:

Asbestos and lead mitigation workers removed asbestos-containing materials from older buildings, risking fiber release during demolition or repair.
Firestopping insulators worked with asbestos insulation in walls and floors for fireproofing that may have released asbestos fibers when disturbed.
Mechanical insulators installed and repaired insulation on boilers, pipes, and HVAC systems, which may have disturbed asbestos fibers during cutting, fitting, or removal.
Specialty fabrication insulators cut and assembled thermal and sound barrier products, potentially releasing asbestos dust during manufacturing processes.
Shipyard insulators repaired or removed asbestos insulation on ships, often in confined spaces with high fiber concentrations.

At the time, insulators were unaware that asbestos could cause lung cancer or other health problems. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the health risks to make millions of dollars.

“I was exposed to asbestos at my job. They had steam panels that were insulated in asbestos. At that period of time, we didn’t know anything about asbestos causing health problems.”

— Dale Nelson, mesothelioma patient

Asbestos insulation materials aren’t used in new construction today. However, they still remain in older buildings and pose risks to insulators and families. That means today’s insulators remain at risk when working on renovations and repairs.

Secondhand Risks of Asbestos and Insulation

Loved ones of insulators risked inadvertent or secondhand asbestos exposure, which could cause them to develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, and more asbestos-related diseases later in life.

Secondhand asbestos exposure could occur when insulators brought home fibers on their clothing, hair, or skin after a long day’s work. The fibers could then settle throughout the house, where family members could breathe them in or swallow them.

Call (877) 446-5767 now for help if you or a loved one has lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another serious disease after working as an insulator.

Risks of Lung Cancer and Other Asbestos Diseases Among Insulators

It usually takes 10-50 years or more for asbestos-related diseases to develop after exposure. As a result, insulators who worked with or around asbestos materials long ago are at risk today.

Insulators could develop asbestos-related diseases like:

Lung cancer: You’re at risk of lung cancer if you breathe in asbestos dust or fibers. Roughly 1 in 5 insulators died from lung cancer according to The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Asbestosis: This is a noncancerous, but very serious, lung disease that develops as asbestos fibers scar the lungs. Eventually, the lungs get hard and stiff.
Mesothelioma: This is a very rare but aggressive cancer that forms in the linings of different parts of the body, such as the lungs. It’s only caused by asbestos.

If you are worried that you could be at risk of an asbestos-related disease, the best thing to do is put your doctor on notice. Health care providers can use tests like lung cancer screenings to catch cancer before it’s spread, when it could be easier to treat.

Compensation Options for Insulators with Lung Cancer

You may be eligible for financial compensation if you or someone you love developed lung cancer and worked as an insulator. These options can help cover medical bills, replace lost income, and support your family.

Legal options for asbestos insulation workers include:

Asbestos lung cancer lawsuits: Lawsuits hold manufacturers that hid the dangers of asbestos products responsible for your illness. These lawsuits can pay out $1 million or more.
Asbestos trust funds: You can file claims with asbestos trust funds to get money without a lawsuit. There is over $30 billion in trusts today.
VA benefits: If you were exposed to asbestos while working with insulation in the military, you may receive VA compensation over $4,000 per month and free or low-cost medical care.
Wrongful death lawsuits: If a loved one died from asbestos lung cancer, you may qualify to file this type of lawsuit. Some wrongful death asbestos lawsuits award over $1 million.

Working with experienced asbestos attorneys can make the legal process as stress-free as possible and help you secure the compensation you deserve.

Get a free case review now to see if you may be eligible.

Find Help for Insulators Exposed to asbestos

If you or a loved one developed lung cancer after working with asbestos insulation, it can be incredibly overwhelming. With that said, you don’t have to navigate this fight alone.

At Lung Cancer Group, we are ready to support those who have become ill from asbestos exposure through no fault of their own.

We may be able to help you:

Explore lung cancer treatment options
Pursue compensation for expenses
Get the support needed after a diagnosis

Get a free case review now or call (877) 446-5767 to see how we can assist you or someone you love facing a lung cancer diagnosis.

Insulators and Asbestos Exposure FAQs

What does asbestos insulation look like?

Asbestos insulation can be brown, grey, silver, or gold, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It may look like pebbles or small rocks.

Never touch exposed insulation that may have asbestos, as this could release toxic fibers into the air and put you at risk of lung cancer later in life. Always call a professional first who can recommend asbestos insulation removal if needed.

Can fiberglass insulation cause lung cancer?

Yes, if you were exposed to fiberglass insulation containing asbestos, it could cause you to develop lung cancer 10-50 years later. You are at an even greater risk if you were exposed to asbestos in fiberglass insulation and also smoked.

Contact our team for help if you are concerned that you developed lung cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos in fiberglass or other types of insulation.

How can you tell if insulation has asbestos?

You probably won’t know for sure if insulation has asbestos containing materials in it or not just by looking at it. Asbestos-free installation could look similar to types that contain this toxic material.

However, if the insulation was put into place before the early 1980s, it likely includes asbestos. This is because almost all insulation products in America included asbestos at that time. If you suspect materials contain asbestos, do not touch or disturb it as this could release fibers.

How harmful is asbestos insulation?

Asbestos insulation can be incredibly harmful to your health. If asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can remain undetected in the body for decades, causing damage over decades. Eventually, the damage can develop into lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious conditions.

We’re ready to help if you or someone you love is facing an asbestos-related disease like lung cancer after working as an insulator. Call (877) 446-5767 now to get started.

What to do if exposed to asbestos insulation?

If you suspect you were exposed to asbestos insulation, talk with your doctor for routine lung cancer screening. Early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give you a better overall lung cancer prognosis (health outlook).

Many cases of asbestos-related diseases like lung cancer don’t cause any symptoms until the tumors have spread, making them harder to treat.

Did vermiculite insulation have asbestos?

Yes, vermiculite or Zolonite-brand attic insulation contained asbestos, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Many older attics may still have this insulation in place today. It’s brown, gold, or gray and has shiny specks or small chunks shaped like accordions.

If you’re concerned about asbestos attic insulation, don’t touch it or disturb it and contact an abatement professional. They can test to determine if the insulation could pose a risk and work to remove it or safely seal it up.

Is asbestos a good insulator?

While asbestos is a good insulator, its benefits do not outweigh the deadly drawbacks. Anyone exposed to asbestos insulation could go on to develop life-threatening illnesses like lung cancer or mesothelioma.

If you worked with insulation, you probably didn’t know it was dangerous. Major manufacturers knew the risks but concealed them for decades, poisoning thousands of insulation workers to make significant profits.

Get a Free Lung Cancer Guide now for all you need to know if you’re facing asbestos-related lung cancer, from exploring treatments to recovering compensation for any expenses.