Can Repairing Old Cars Put You at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?
You may be in danger of inhaling asbestos fibers if you work as an auto mechanic or in another profession in the automotive sector that is consistently around older vehicles. Asbestos is found in many older vehicle parts, as well as some current vehicles.
Asbestos in Car Parts
When you learn more about asbestos’ qualities, it’s simple to see why it was used in so many different sectors. Asbestos is a long-lasting, heat-resistant material that helps to keep objects safe from fire. Since car engines generate a significant amount of heat and friction, they quickly became a useful material for car parts.
Below are several other car parts that may contain asbestos:
- Spark Plugs
- Gaskets
- Clutches
- Valves
- Mufflers
- Undercoating
- Floor Insulation
- And more
Drum and disc brakes, as well as asbestos clutch parts, deteriorate naturally over time and may still contain up to 35 percent chrysotile asbestos.
Many of these items were created in the twentieth century when the dangers of asbestos exposure were first becoming widely recognized. As doctors began to link mesothelioma to asbestos exposure, lawmakers began to place restrictions on the use of asbestos in particular items.
Who is at risk?
Do-it-yourselfers who enjoy working on automobiles are at significant risk of asbestos exposure since they frequently lack sufficient protective equipment and may be uninformed of asbestos-reduction methods. Car mechanics are also at risk.
Asbestos fibers could be released into the air and inhaled by anyone around if it is disturbed. While there is no such thing as a safe level of asbestos exposure, inhaling asbestos fibers on a frequent basis can lead to life-threatening health problems like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma in the Auto Industry
By the middle of the 1970s, the generations of asbestos exposure had been clear. The rising number of workers acquiring lung ailments, including rare diseases like mesothelioma, was concerning. Symptoms of mesothelioma might take decades to manifest following exposure. As a result, prolonged occupational exposure to asbestos dust and fibers became the common denominator for determining exposure sources. The military, the automotive industry, and different manufacturing sectors are all at heightened risk.
If you have questions about your legal options after being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, call Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C., for a free consultation. Our mesothelioma lawyers have helped numerous asbestos victims secure compensation for medical treatment and other damages.
