Auto Mechanics (Auto Plant Workers, Garage Workers) - Mesothelioma Risks

Auto mechanics commonly perform vehicle services such as:

• Maintenance
• Repair
• Installation
• Replacement of parts

Auto mechanics worked with a number of different systems and auto parts that were once manufactured with asbestos. Unfortunately, many auto mechanics developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases as the result of occupational exposure. In one study of 1,048 pleural mesothelioma patients, 4 percent had a history of working in the auto industry.

If you worked as an auto mechanic and are worried that you were exposed to asbestos, a qualified doctor can help discuss your risk for asbestos-related diseases and may test for signs of these illnesses. For assistance in making an appointment with a doctor in your area, please contact the Mesothelioma Center’s Doctor Match Program.

Auto Repair and Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos was previously considered to be an excellent insulator for high-temperature auto parts. Because the mineral was extremely cheap and readily available, auto makers frequently used asbestos in gaskets, brakes and a number of other auto components. Until the 1980s, brakes contained up to 65 percent asbestos.

The techniques used to remove old auto parts can release millions of asbestos particles into the air. Auto mechanics may have been exposed to asbestos while performing the following:

• Replace brakes and clutches
• Sand or grind auto parts
• Drill brakes
• Remove disks and drums

Asbestos fibers that become airborne can settle onto the ground. As auto repair workers cleaned the shop, the sweeping and wiping of the area often re-emitted fibers back into the air. One mesothelioma patient, Fred Mirante, attributed his asbestos-related disease to the inhalation of asbestos that occurred during his life-long hobby of repairing cars and performing brake work.

Poor ventilation would often worsen the conditions of dusty garage bays and other spaces where workers were usually stationed. Microscopic asbestos particles contaminated the air in body shops where workers serviced brakes and clutches, and many mechanics inhaled the particles.

An investigation conducted by The Seattle Post-Intelligencer found that the high exposure levels at gas stations and brake repair shops could place approximately one in 10 unprotected mechanics at risk for developing an asbestos-related cancer. The study examined shops located in cities such as Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Richmond, Seattle and Washington D.C.

The dust found in shops and garages contained between 2.26 percent and 63.8 percent asbestos. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the use of protective suits and respirators is required if 1 percent or more of asbestos is present. Thereport from The Seattle Post-Intelligencer also found significant amounts of asbestos in six out of nine brake jobs that were examined.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like additional information about the treatment and management of the cancer, please fill out the form on this page.