Certain groups of people have a much higher risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, because they work or have worked in occupations at high risk of asbestos exposure. In the United States the peak period of asbestos use was between the 1940s and 1980s. This period also coincides with the peak period of asbestos exposure risk for construction workers, shipyard workers, and workers in many industrial trades, including in the steel manufacturing industry.

Depending on where they work, steel mill workers may still be at risk of asbestos exposure, because steel mills may still contain asbestos if they were built before the 1980s. While new uses of asbestos in construction were all but banned by the 1980s, any steel mill built prior to this time may contain asbestos-containing construction materials that still pose a hazard to workers.

Steel mills are places where the majority of workers are employed in occupations that involve working with extremely hot substances, working near extremely hot locations, or working with machinery with moving parts. All of these types of activities can potentially result in asbestos exposure because asbestos was added to many materials and products that were used in areas subjected to extremely hot temperatures.

Steel mill workers may have been exposed to asbestos frequently while at work, completing daily tasks. The widespread use of asbestos-containing protective clothing in steel mills means that many workers were exposed to the toxic mineral.

Certain physical properties of asbestos, including high tensile strength, extreme fire resistance and resistance to physical and chemical degradation, made it a highly desirable substance for many industrial and commercial purposes. Asbestos, when added to metals, concretes, plastics and other substances, could make those substances more efficient insulators, fire-proof and more resistant to high temperatures.

In steel mills, asbestos was used in machinery with moving parts that were subject to high heat and friction. The substance was added to cement insulation, and other construction materials to reduce fire hazards, prevent head conduction and limit the spread of fire if one should occur. Asbestos-containing products, particularly insulation, were also used in blast furnaces, boilers and steam pipes, and many tools used by steel mill workers.

For many steel mill workers, however, the greatest risk was actually due to the fact that asbestos was woven into cloth that was used to make protective clothing, including gloves, aprons, coveralls, and face masks. Intact clothing posed a small asbestos exposure risk, but the danger was increased greatly when the fabric ripped or tore, as fibers were much more likely to be released into the air where they could be inhaled or ingested.

An asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma develops after fibers enter the body and become lodged in organs and body cavities, causing inflammation and infection. Mesothelioma is usually develops in the lining of the lungs, but can also develop in the lining of the heart, abdomen, or testicles. A patient may take several decades to express symptoms of mesothelioma from the time initial exposure to asbestos occurred. Please click here to receive a complimentary informational packet about mesothelioma, symptoms and treatment options. .

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