Asbestos was used extensively across American industries for its heat resistance, durability, and low cost. Workers who handled asbestos-containing materials—or worked alongside those who did—inhaled microscopic fibers that can cause mesothelioma 20 to 50 years later.
Construction Trades
Construction workers faced some of the highest exposure levels, handling asbestos in insulation, drywall, flooring, roofing, and cement products.
Bricklayers
Detailed GuideCarpenters
Detailed GuideDrywallers
Detailed GuideElectricians
Detailed GuideFloor covering workers
Detailed GuideGlaziers
Detailed GuideHod carriers
Detailed GuideInsulators
Detailed GuideIronworkers
Detailed GuideLaborers
Detailed GuidePainters
Detailed GuidePlasterers
Detailed GuidePlumbers
Detailed GuideRoofers
Detailed GuideSheet metal workers
Detailed GuideTile setters
Detailed GuideIndustrial & Manufacturing
Factory workers, plant operators, and industrial tradespeople worked with asbestos-insulated equipment, pipes, and machinery.
Boilermakers
Detailed GuideFurnace workers
Detailed GuideGrinders
Detailed GuideMaintenance workers
Detailed GuideMillwrights
Detailed GuideOperating engineers
Detailed GuidePipefitters
Detailed GuideRefinery workers
Detailed GuideSteamfitters
Detailed GuideWelders
Detailed GuideMaritime & Shipyard
Naval vessels and shipyards used asbestos extensively. Maritime workers face the highest mesothelioma rates of any occupational group.
Longshoremen
Detailed GuideMerchant marines
Detailed GuideShipyard workers
Detailed GuideU.S. Navy personnel
Detailed GuideOther High-Risk Occupations
Auto mechanics
Detailed GuideBuilding Inspectors
Detailed GuideDemolition Workers
Detailed GuideLibby vermiculite exfoliation plant workers
Detailed GuideNot Listed Here?
Many occupations beyond this list involved asbestos exposure. If you worked in any industry before 1990 and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, discuss your work history with your doctor. Secondary exposure from a family member's work clothes can also cause mesothelioma.
Learn about secondary exposure →