The toxic mineral asbestos was widely used in various industries throughout the 20th century, including the automotive industry. Exposure to asbestos is linked to the development of serious illnesses including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs.
Mesothelioma patients may take decades to demonstrate symptoms of the cancer, allowing it to progress and spread inside the body. Those who were exposed to asbestos while working in the automotive industry prior to the 1980s may only now begin to express mesothelioma symptoms.
Asbestos exposure often occurred in the automotive industry because the mineral was commonly used in many different auto parts including brake pads and linings, gaskets and hoodliners. Exposure occurs when the asbestos-containing materials are damaged, releasing toxic fibers into the air.
Once the particles are airborne, those nearby may inhale or ingest the fibers into the body where they may become lodged in organs or cavities. Overtime, inflammation or infection occurs and mesothelioma disease develops.
The danger of exposure in the automotive industry was heightened since the function of brakes and clutches hinge on abrasion, causing the constant release of toxic asbestos fibers. Asbestos particles are then trapped inside the brake housing or clutch space, released only when a worker replaces or repairs the part.
If a mechanic was exposed to asbestos on the job and wore work clothing home, family members and friends may also have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos fibers were often transported into the homes of workers on their clothing, skin and hair.
Since 1940, an estimated 6 million mechanics have been exposed to asbestos in brakes, resulting in approximately 580 asbestos-related cancer deaths annually. Unfortunately this number is expected to rise as more workers exposed to asbestos begin to demonstrate symptoms of an asbestos-related illness.
Those who worked in the automotive industry are encouraged to schedule regular checkups with a doctor and inform a physician of previous exposure to asbestos. Though a cure does not exist, early diagnosis of mesothelioma may yield greater treatment options for mesothelioma patients.
