Asbestos in Power Plants

Power plants relied on products containing asbestos for decades in boilers, turbines, insulation, and other components. However, this put power plant workers at risk of developing serious asbestos-related health problems like lung cancer later in life. We can help power plant workers who developed lung cancer from asbestos in power plants understand their treatment options and access compensation.

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Written and Fact-Checked by: Lung Cancer Group

Last updated: November 14, 2025

Top Topics:

Asbestos Dangers
High-Risk Plant Jobs
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Power Plant Workers and Asbestos Lung Cancer Risks

Prior to the early 1980s, power plants across the country used asbestos-containing components to help manage high temperatures and pressure. At the time, asbestos was seen as an ideal material because it was heat-resistant, a good insulator, and inexpensive.

Power plant workers didn’t realize that working with asbestos-containing materials could release toxic fibers and dust into the air, and that breathing this in could cause health issues like mesothelioma and lung cancer decades after the fact.

As a result, many older power plant workers who are now retired are facing asbestos-related illnesses through no fault of their own.

Quick Facts: Asbestos Lung Cancer in Power Plant Workers

Working in power plants is one of the highest-risk occupations for asbestos exposure, according to OncoTargets and Therapy.
Hundreds of power stations across the United States were built with asbestos-containing components before the risks were publicly understood.
Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knew the dangers but hid them from power plant workers and the general public for decades.
Asbestos in power plants poses a threat to workers and the general public even today. Many older plants are still standing despite containing this toxic material.

Get a free case review to find out how we can help if you or someone you love has developed asbestos-related lung cancer after working in a power plant.

How Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Power Plants?

There were many asbestos-containing products used throughout power plants. Boilers, turbines, and steam pipes ran hot, and asbestos insulation was used to keep equipment safe and lower fire risks.

Installing, repairing, or replacing components with asbestos in power plants could have put you and your fellow workers at risk of exposure and serious illnesses.

Notable products containing asbestos in power plants included:

Boilers
Gaskets
Gloves and aprons
Insulation
Paneling
Pipe lagging
Turbines
Valves

Power plant workers like you risked exposure to asbestos-containing materials every day on the job. Breathing in air that was contaminated with asbestos fibers regularly increased your odds of developing lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases later in life.

The risk of cancer was even greater if you smoked or were exposed to other toxins like radiation, diesel exhaust, or coal, which were commonly used in nuclear power plants.

Power Plant Jobs With a High Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Anyone who worked with asbestos in power plants is in danger of lung cancer today. With that said, some power plant jobs meant daily exposure to asbestos, which increases the chances of getting sick.

Jobs that routinely exposed workers to asbestos in power plants included:

Boiler workers: Took care of boilers covered in asbestos fireproofing
Electricians: Worked with asbestos panels, wiring insulation, and gaskets
Maintenance workers: Often disturbed asbestos during daily repairs
Pipefitters and insulators: Installed and repaired asbestos insulation on pipes and ducts
Turbine operators: Handled turbines lined with asbestos products for heat control

There is no way to lower your odds of developing asbestos-related illnesses after exposure. In addition, these diseases take 10 to 50 years to develop, so many older or retired power plant workers are just being diagnosed today despite being exposed decades ago.

Call (877) 446-5767 now for help if you or someone you love has developed lung cancer or mesothelioma and once worked in a power plant or another job with a high risk of asbestos exposure.

Modern-Day Risks of Asbestos in Power Plants

While the health risks of asbestos are well-known today, many older power plants built prior to the early 1980s are still standing. These aging power stations could contain asbestos, putting workers, renovators, and even the nearby community in danger.

For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized a major agreement to renovate the Goudey Power Station in upstate New York. This power plant operated through 2011, but since its closure, it has been leaking asbestos fibers out into the surrounding property, according to local news outlets.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure Among Power Plant Worker Families

Power plant workers may have inadvertently exposed their loved ones to asbestos fibers. This is known as secondary exposure and occurred when workers came home with dust and fibers stuck to their clothing, hair, skin, or equipment.

The asbestos fibers could then settle in the home, putting spouses, children, and other family members in danger of serious illnesses later in life.

“You had a lot of asbestos dust. We would bring our overalls home, covered in white.”
— Mick Tompkins, former power worker with mesothelioma

Power Plant Workers and Asbestos Diseases

If you worked at a power plant decades ago, you could be at risk of several types of asbestos-related diseases in the present day, most notably serious cancers.

Asbestos-related diseases that often affect power plant workers include:

Asbestosis: A non-cancerous but serious lung disease in which the lungs become stiffened and scarred due to asbestos fibers. It can lead to breathing difficulties and death in severe cases.
Lung cancer: You could go on to develop lung cancer if you breathed in asbestos fibers while working at a power plant. The asbestos fibers remain trapped in your body, damaging healthy tissue and causing mutations that lead to cancer tumors.
Mesothelioma: The only known cause of this rare but aggressive cancer is asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles.

It typically takes 10-50 years for these diseases to develop after exposure to asbestos in power plants, and many symptoms are mild or vague at first. As a result, you may not initially think that you have an asbestos-related illness, but rather something less serious like the flu or the common cold.

If you’re concerned about your risk of lung cancer or other diseases, tell your health care providers if you were ever exposed to asbestos in power plants and request precautionary tests like lung cancer screenings.

Compensation for Power Plant Workers With Lung Cancer

You or someone you love could qualify for asbestos compensation after a lung cancer diagnosis. There are different ways to get compensated and to hold negligent manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials financially accountable for your illness.

Compensation sources for power plant workers with asbestos-related diseases include:

Personal injury lawsuits: Power plant asbestos exposure lawyers can file mesothelioma or lung cancer lawsuits on your behalf. The average value of a mesothelioma lawsuit is $1 million or more. Most lawsuits are settled out of court, allowing your family to get compensation quickly.
Asbestos trust fund claims: Over $30 billion is available across dozens of trusts today. You may qualify to access compensation from some of these trusts without having to file lawsuits.
VA benefits: If you served in the U.S. military, you may be eligible for a wide range of benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits include compensation worth over $4,000 a month and free or inexpensive medical care for mesothelioma.
Wrongful death lawsuits: If a loved one worked in a power plant and later passed away from mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits pay out over $1 million on average.

Lung Cancer Group has partnered with top lung cancer law firms that can help families across the country file claims and pursue the compensation they deserve.

Get a free case review now to find out how much lung cancer compensation could be available if you were sickened by asbestos in power plants.

Help for Power Plant Workers With Asbestos Lung Cancer

Power plants all across the country used asbestos-containing components for decades, but workers were never informed of the serious health risks. As a result, former power plant workers continue to develop asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer every year.

Lung Cancer Group stands ready to support you and your family if you’re facing asbestos lung cancer after working in a power plant long ago.

We’re ready to help you:

Determine if you were exposed to asbestos in power plants
Explore key treatments for asbestos cancers
File for compensation to afford expenses
Get support during this uncertain time

Get a free case review now or call (877) 446-5767 to connect with us. We’ll walk with you on your cancer journey and assist in any way we can.

Asbestos Exposure in Power Plants FAQs

What are the bad materials in power plants?

Asbestos is one of the worst materials that was used in power plants across the country for decades. Power stations relied on asbestos-containing materials like lagging, insulation, and valves to manage heat and pressure.

However, exposure to asbestos, as well as other materials like radiation and diesel, put power plant workers in danger of serious illnesses like lung cancer later in life.

How common is lung cancer in power plant workers?

Lung cancer is more common in power plant workers than in the general population. Many worked around asbestos, coal dust, or other harmful materials.

Studies show exposure to asbestos in power plants raised cancer rates, especially for workers who had to handle this toxin every day through tasks like boiler tending, maintenance, and pipefitting.

Get a free case review now for help if you or a loved one is suffering from lung cancer after working in a power plant.

What are the risks of living near a power plant?

Older power plants that are no longer in use or being maintained could be leaching toxic substances like asbestos into the surrounding environment. If you live near one, make sure you understand what’s being done to protect your family from getting sick.

The city of Caribou, Maine, received a $4 million grant from the EPA to clean up a decaying power plant in 2025. The plant had not been in use for over a decade, and hazardous materials like asbestos were known to have been used at the site.

Is there a link between coal-fired power plants and lung cancer?

Yes, there is a connection between working in a coal-fired power plant and potentially developing lung cancer. Exposure to coal and other toxic materials like asbestos in power plants has contributed to many cases of cancer among former employees.

Lung Cancer Group may be able to help if you’ve developed lung cancer after working with asbestos in power plants. Contact us now to learn more.