Asbestos in Automotive Products

Asbestos in Automotive Products
Asbestos in Automotive Products

* Increase Font Size
* Print Article

Asbestos in automotive products is known to have caused lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma and other diseases in thousands of people. Workers involved in the manufacture or repair of asbestos-containing automotive products are at risk of receiving repeated and long-term exposure to the asbestos fibers that can lodge in their lungs, initiating deadly disease.

Mechanics, whether professionals or do-it-yourselfers, often deal with automotive parts that may present some danger. Asbestos in the following automotive products is most commonly associated with toxic effects:

* automotive brakes
* automotive clutches
* automotive hoodliners

Automotive Brakes

Asbestos has been used for decades in automotive brakes as the lining for the brake shoes. Asbestos in a woven or sprayed form makes an effective liner because it is resistant to the friction and heat created by the shoes against the brake drum.

However, the repair or replacement of automotive brakes often requires contact with and exposure to the asbestos lining, which can be in a crumbling or "friable" state, ready to be released into the air that the mechanic is breathing. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) now requires automotive brake work to be done using protective measures such as masks and ventilation hoods.

Automotive Clutches

The friction discs in older versions of automotive clutches contained asbestos, and the mechanics who did clutch work day after day were exposed to toxic levels of asbestos. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-caused diseases are not uncommon among the men and women who worked on automotive clutches.

Automotive Hoodliners

The manufacture, installation, repair, and removal of automotive hoodliners that contain asbestos can result in the disruption of the asbestos fibers and the release of the tiny fibers into the air. Asbestos was a logical choice as a woven or sprayed material to line the hood of a car because its heat-resistant qualities make it an effective insulator.

Unfortunately, asbestos fibers are too small for the naked eye to perceive, and for many years the individuals who worked with automotive hoodliners were inhaling the fibers without being aware of doing so. The tragic results are now evident in the cases of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

Learn More about Asbestos in Automotive Products

If you have mesothelioma and you suspect that your losses are due to asbestos in automotive products, contact us to learn more about your rights.

Related Automotive Asbestos Products

April 30, 2008 - Honeywell found Liable for Asbestos Brakes

Feb 28, 2008 - Family Receives $30M in Asbestos Suit

Nov 29, 2007 - Woman Files Asbestos Suit for Brother


Asbestos in Automotive Products