Auto Mechanics and Asbestos Exposure

A good mechanic is invaluable and, in general, mechanics play a vital role in the health of the United States economy. Mechanics perform a very important function, repairing and maintaining vehicles so that the transportation needs of America are met. But over the last hundred years, due to the presence of asbestos in auto parts such as brakes and clutches, the health of many automotive mechanics has been compromised.

For decades, thousands of mechanics were exposed to asbestos, unaware of the dangers of working with the mineral. Little or nothing was done to protect these men (and women), largely because asbestos manufacturers and the leaders of the automotive industry kept the everyday automotive mechanic in the dark, refusing to expound on the dangers of working with the toxic material.

Although the EPA warned automotive industry executives about the dangers of asbestos by the mid-20th century, these executives did little to inform the members of their working community. Compounding the problem was the fact that auto mechanics usually worked in tight areas (such as garages) with poor ventilation, increasing the chance of inhaling tiny asbestos fibers that would lodge in their lungs and cause health problems later in life.

Despite the fact that the EPA issued official asbestos warnings in the mid-1970s and OSHA continues to offer guidelines on working with asbestos safely, dangerous levels of asbestos dust can still be found in thousands of automotive workshops across the country, where they pose a serious threat to the health of workers and bystanders. In a study recently conducted by the EPA, more than two-thirds of the automotive garages inspected had dangerous levels of asbestos dust present. As a matter of fact, the researchers who conducted this study estimate that the dust found in most garages ranges from 2 to 60 percent asbestos - a staggering finding.

From where does all the asbestos dust come? The worst culprits are the parts surrounding the automotive brake, the brake lining, pad, and the drum. These once contained asbestos, due to its excellent heat-and fire-resistant properties. With use, the lining and pad wear down, causing asbestos dust to settle on the drum and other brake parts. During repair or replacement of the brake, an automotive mechanic must remove and clean the brake drum, at which point he or she is at a high risk of aspirating the loose asbestos dust.

Clutch facings and gaskets were also once commonly manufactured with asbestos materials. Especially problematic is the gasket, which during removal and installation must often be cut and fashioned to fit a particular engine. During this procedure, asbestos fibers in the gasket material may be released into the air, where they pose a serious threat to the health of automotive mechanics.

Though these parts no longer contain asbestos if manufactured in America, foreign parts sometimes still contain the hazardous mineral. In addition, those working on older cars might encounter old asbestos-containing parts.

According to recent studies, the incidence of lung cancer in automotive mechanics is significantly higher than in the general population, and anecdotal evidence points to similar numbers for mesothelioma, which can only be caused by exposure to asbestos.

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