Asbestos Exposure in Plumbers and Pipefitters
Plumbers and pipefitters risked exposure to asbestos, a cancer-causing substance, on a daily basis from the 1930s to the early 1980s. Many pipefitters and plumbers have developed lung cancer and mesothelioma as a result. Get help pursuing treatments, compensation, and justice if you or a loved one got sick.
Why Plumbers and Pipefitters Are at Risk of Asbestos Lung Cancer
Plumbers and pipefitters worked with products containing asbestos, such as pipes, gaskets, insulation, valves, and more, as part of their job duties. However, this released asbestos fibers into the air, putting workers in danger of serious asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, later in life.
Plumbing and pipefitting are both listed as high-risk occupations for asbestos exposure by the American Cancer Society (ACS). If you worked in either of these roles, you likely didn’t know the danger since manufacturers of asbestos products hid the health risks.
Lung cancer and mesothelioma lawyers for plumbers and pipefitters can seek compensation for treatment costs and other expenses if you or a loved one became sick.
Get a free case review now to find out if our team can assist you after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer.
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How Were Plumbers and Pipefitters Exposed to Asbestos?
Many plumbers and pipefitters were at an everyday risk of asbestos exposure since dozens of components relied on this toxic material to resist corrosion, water, and friction.
Products containing asbestos in plumbing included:
- Adhesives
- Boilers
- Cement
- Drywall
- Gaskets, flanges, and valves
- Heat shields
- Insulation
- Lagging
- Pumps
- Repair and joint compounds
Making asbestos cement pipe repairs, installing new materials, or removing old ones could have released fibers into the air. Breathing in or swallowing the fibers put pipefitters and plumbers in danger of lung cancer and mesothelioma later in life.
“I was exposed to asbestos through sheetrock, mud, gaskets, piping, respirators, cartridges, and filters. They all had asbestos in them, all through my career.”
— John Stahl, mesothelioma patient
Prior to the early 1980s, plumbers and pipefitters did not understand that asbestos was dangerous. The companies that made and sold asbestos-containing materials knew the risks but hid them, essentially poisoning thousands of people for profit.
High-Risk Asbestos Work Sites for Plumbers and Pipefitters
Asbestos exposure could have occurred on any worksite where a plumber or pipefitter was needed. This is because asbestos piping and plumbing products were used in a wide range of buildings and structures before the risks were fully understood.
Plumbers and pipefitters could have been exposed in:
- Apartments and homes
- Commercial buildings like offices
- Construction sites
- Navy ships and civilian vessels
- Power plants
- Schools
Those working on military sites had a particularly high risk of exposure. The military actually had mandates in place for the use of asbestos-containing materials like gaskets, cement, insulation, and sewer pipes on its ships and bases.
There is still a risk of asbestos exposure even today for plumbers and pipefitters. This is because many older structures still have asbestos-containing pipes, insulation, and more dating back to the time they were installed. Without proper precautions, workers could accidentally disturb asbestos fibers, putting them at risk of cancer later in life.
Call (877) 446-5767 now for help navigating next steps if you developed lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another serious illness after working as a plumber or pipefitter.
Secondhand Asbestos Exposure Among Loved Ones of Pipefitters and Plumbers
Plumbers and pipefitters themselves weren’t the only ones in danger from asbestos. Their families also risked secondary asbestos exposure. This occurred when pipefitters and plumbers would come home from worksites with asbestos dust stuck to their clothing, skin, tools, or hair.
For example, Andrew Manuel’s father was a pipeline distributor for a shipyard and returned home covered in asbestos-contaminated clothing. Andrew and his siblings would also play on ship pipes that sat in the backyard as children. Decades later, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma due to this exposure.
“My husband had no knowledge that it was asbestos, and I don’t really think his family did either. I don’t think they realized the importance of what was actually happening at the time.”
— LaTanya Manuel, wife of mesothelioma patient Andrew Manuel
Asbestos Health Risks in Plumbers & Pipefitters
If you or someone you love worked as a plumber or pipefitter, you could be at risk of serious asbestos-related health issues like cancer in the present day. In fact, nearly 1 in 5 plumbers had an asbestos-caused illness in a study from the 1980s.
Asbestos-related diseases in plumbers and pipefitters include:
- Asbestosis: Asbestos fibers cause scarring in your lungs, making breathing difficult. It has no cure and slowly weakens the lungs over time.
- Lung cancer: You could develop lung cancer if you breathed in asbestos fibers. You are at a higher risk if you smoked and were also exposed to asbestos.
- Mesothelioma: This is a rare cancer that affects the lining of vital organs like the lungs, abdominal cavity, or heart. The only known cause is asbestos exposure.
Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period. It typically takes 10-50 years or more for these illnesses to form after you were exposed. As a result, plumbers and pipefitters who worked with or around asbestos components decades ago are at risk of getting sick today.
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 check for illnesses even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. This can hopefully help catch any illnesses before they are in advanced stages.
List of Manufacturers of Asbestos Plumbing and Pipefitting Products
Dozens of companies made and sold asbestos-containing materials that put plumbers, pipefitters, and other workers at risk of serious health issues. These manufacturers understood that asbestos was harmful dating back to the 1930s, but concealed the truth for decades in an effort to protect their profits.
Manufacturers of asbestos plumbing and pipefitting products include:
- Armstrong World Industries
- Bell Asbestos Mines
- Dana Corporation
- Honeywell Heating
- Imerys
- Johns-Manville Corporation
- National Gypsum Company
- North American Refractories
- Owens Corning
- United States Gypsum
The list above is not complete. There were many other companies that made, sold, and distributed asbestos-containing materials without warning plumbers, pipefitters, and other workers about the dangers.
Compensation for Plumbers & Pipefitters With Asbestos-Related Diseases
If you or someone you love is a plumber or pipefitter facing an asbestos-related disease like lung cancer, you could be eligible for compensation from manufacturers of asbestos products.
Legal options for plumbers and pipefitters with asbestos diseases include:
- Personal injury lawsuits: You may qualify to file a mesothelioma or lung cancer lawsuit against the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products that made you sick. These lawsuits often award $1 million or more.
- Asbestos trust fund claims: You can pursue payouts from asbestos trust funds to get money without filing a lawsuit. There is over $30 billion total available across all trusts today.
- VA benefits: If you are a U.S. veteran, you could be eligible for a wide range of VA benefits, including compensation worth over $4,000 per month and free or low-cost health care.
- Wrongful death lawsuits: You can file this type of lawsuit if a loved one died from an asbestos-related disease. Many of these lawsuits pay out over $1 million.
Lung Cancer Group has partnered with skilled attorneys who can help you seek a payout from manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. This means you can focus on your health with less worry about the costs.
Pipefitters, Plumbers, and Asbestos Settlements
Our asbestos lawyers have secured millions of dollars from past settlements and verdicts — money that has changed the lives of pipefitters and plumbers with asbestos-related diseases for the better.
Notable mesothelioma and lung cancer settlements include:
- $8.1 million to the loved ones of a Missouri pipefitter with mesothelioma
- $2.77 million to a Tennessee pipefitter with lung cancer
- $1.6 million to a California plumber and his wife who both had lung cancer
- $2.61 million for a Virginia plumber and carpenter suffering from mesothelioma
- $1.57 million to a California plumber with lung cancer
- $3 million for a Wisconsin pipefitter and steamfitter with mesothelioma
While each case is different and there are no guarantees, you could be eligible for similar financial payouts depending on the circumstances of your case.
Get a free case review now to find out if you or someone you love can pursue compensation for lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related illness.
- Access Financial Aid and Justice
- Learn About Your Options
- Contact Us for Free
Help for Pipefitters & Plumbers Exposed to Asbestos
If you or someone you love worked as a pipefitter or plumber and now has lung cancer, mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related illness, you aren’t alone. Thousands of others are diagnosed each year through no fault of their own.
Lung Cancer Group is ready to help you navigate life after a diagnosis, making it easier for you and your family.
We may be able to help you:
- Explore available treatment options
- Seek compensation to cover any expenses
- Get the support you need after your diagnosis
Call (877) 446-5767 or get a free case review now and learn how we can assist you. We have patient advocates, registered nurses, and legal professionals on staff ready to walk you through your options.
Pipefitters, Plumbers, and Asbestos Exposure FAQs
Are pipefitters exposed to asbestos?
Yes, any pipefitter who worked between the 1930s and early 1980s could have been exposed to asbestos. A wide range of pipefitting materials, including the pipes themselves, insulation, gaskets, cement, and more, contained asbestos to help with durability.
Pipefitters who were exposed to asbestos could go on to develop lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious diseases later in life. If you have been diagnosed, it could be the result of asbestos exposure linked back to your pipefitting job.
Do plumbers get mesothelioma?
Yes, plumbers could develop mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. This is because plumbers risked exposure to asbestos-containing materials like pipes, adhesives, and joint compounds they used at their jobs on an everyday basis.
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma and has been linked to other serious health issues like lung cancer. These illnesses typically affect plumbers 10 to 50 years or more after they were first exposed to asbestos.
Contact us now for help exploring treatment and compensation options if you are a loved one is a plumber suffering from mesothelioma or lung cancer.
How serious is one-time asbestos exposure?
There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even one-time exposure to asbestos puts you at risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other illnesses later in life.
However, if you worked as a plumber or pipefitter before the early 1980s, you risked regular exposure to asbestos through various products. This makes it more likely that you could develop an asbestos-related disease.
How can I find mesothelioma lawyers for plumbers and pipefitters?
Call (877) 446-5767 or get a free case review now for help connecting with mesothelioma lawyers. We have experienced attorneys in our network who have helped other plumbers and pipefitters get money for treatments, living costs, and any other expenses after a diagnosis.
The attorneys we work with typically recover $1 million or more for mesothelioma patients. In one notable case, our legal partners secured $8.1 million for the family of a Missouri pipefitter diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The mesothelioma attorneys for plumbers and pipefitters we work with might be able to assist you, too, giving you peace of mind during this trying time.
What should I do with asbestos-wrapped pipes in a basement?
Many older basements have asbestos in pipe insulation. Do not touch concrete asbestos pipe or insulation yourself, particularly if you notice that they are decaying or flaking off.
Instead, contact an abatement company and ask about asbestos pipe removal services. Abatement companies are trained to safely take out or seal older pipes and other materials that may contain asbestos. They can also give you a quote on the cost of removing asbestos pipe insulation.
