Blacksmiths – Mesothelioma Risks

A respected and historic occupation, blacksmiths heat iron and other metals to shape the materials into practical and ornamental items. Today, most metal fabrication is performed by machines and blacksmiths tend to work in a more artisanal setting, producing ornamental pieces and artwork.

Given the extreme heat generated by the hot metals, asbestos was an ideal choice for protecting and fireproofing materials in a blacksmith's line of work. Blacksmiths and ironworkers who were in the workforce prior to the 1980s faced asbestos exposure risks by working with asbestos-made products in their shops, including protective blankets and other tools.

Hidden Asbestos Risks for Blacksmiths Today

In 1991, more than a decade after the government began regulating the use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products, researchers from the Division of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital found that workers in blacksmith and ironwork trades who performed installations at construction sites or power facilities were at risk for asbestos exposure.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine, medical researchers examined almost 900 structural and ornamental iron workers in the New York metropolitan area. Results showed that "three hundred and twenty-nine (38 percent) of the examined workers had pleural [lung] abnormalities on their chest radiographs consistent with asbestos induced effects."

The study does acknowledge that although ex-smokers appeared to have the highest prevalence of abnormalities, further analyses showed that length of employment in the blacksmith trade remained the causal factor of associated risks. Asbestos-related illnesses tend to have long latency periods between the time of initial exposure and manifestation in the worker. Symptoms of mesothelioma can take as long as 20 to 50 years to arise.

Asbestos Exposure

Within the blacksmith trade, asbestos may have been used in the following products:

• Insulation to protect the wall behind the forge and the forge itself from heat and fires.
• The tiles in the floor of the workshop, especially around the forge and work area.
• Asbestos gloves
• Asbestos aprons
• Asbestos face masks to protect from sparks
• Asbestos cloth in place of traditional leather

While such products are no longer manufactured with asbestos, most of the equipment and insulation containing asbestos remained after the government began regulating the toxic substance. Firebrick was manufactured with asbestos, and floors and walls under and around forges may still be insulated with asbestos-containing materials. If these materials crumble or begin to peel, asbestos fibers can become airborne and potentially inhaled.

Safe levels of asbestos exposure do not exist and the smallest amount of exposure can cause the development of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma. Blacksmith shops and metal foundries are particularly hazardous because the working conditions are harsh and asbestos-containing materials come into direct contact with employees.

Resources for Blacksmiths

In order to lower the chances of developing a serious asbestos-related condition, former blacksmiths who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos should refrain from smoking altogether. Smoking cigarettes after being exposed to asbestos has been shown to exacerbate the effects of each. If you have experienced asbestos exposure and smoke, you’re at an increased risk for developing lung cancer.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with a condition related to asbestos exposure, we offer a free informational packet to describe the services we offer and how exposure occurs. Don’t wait to learn about the hazards of asbestos as early detection is important to fighting an asbestos-related disease.