At Risk Jobs/locations
Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Even at low exposure levels, these microscopic particles can cause mesothelioma cancer, which can have a latency period of up to 40 years. Most of this asbestos exposure occurred prior to the 1980s, when asbestos was discovered to be a health hazard. Hundreds of thousands of individuals have been potentially exposed to these asbestos fibers through their jobs. In addition, family members of those exposed also may be at risk through paraoccupational exposure. In these cases, workers may have unknowningly exposed their families through indirect contact. In addition, families located near former asbestos production facilities, shipyards, and other sites that involve asbestos are at risk. Even the demolition of buildings that contain asbestos can contaminate nearby homes and communities.
Locations:
- Asbestos product manufacturing (insulation, roofing, building, materials)
- Automotive repair (brakes & clutches)
- Construction/contractors
- Maritime
- Miners
- Offshore rust removals
- Oil refineries
- Power plants
- Railroads
- Sand or abrasive manufacturers
- Shipyards / ships / ship builders
- Steel mills
- Tile cutters
Occupations:
- Auto Mechanics
- Boiler makers
- Bricklayers
- Building Inspectors
- Carpenters
- Drywallers
- Electricians
- Floor Coverings
- Furnace Workers
- Glazers
- Grinders
- Hod carriers
- Insulators
- Iron workers
- Laborers
- Longshoremen
- Maintenance workers
- Merchant marines
- Millwrights
- Operating Engineers
- Painters
- Plasterers
- Plumbers
- Roofers
- Sand blasters
- Sheet metal workers
- Steam fitters
- Tile setters
- Welders
- U.S. Navy veterans
- Welders
Due to massive asbestos exposure, certain occupations have an increased risk for developing mesothelioma. For example, asbestos insulation workers have 92 times the risk of developing of lung cancer, and smelter workers have 3-8 times the risk of developing lung cancer.
