Plumbers and Asbestos Exposure Risks
If you or a family member worked as a plumber or pipefitter before the mid-1980s, you were likely exposed to asbestos. Decades later, people who worked in the trade are facing mesothelioma and lung cancer diagnoses. Nemeroff Law can help determine if you are eligible for compensation.
How Plumbers Were Exposed to Asbestos
Up until the mid-1980s, plumbers were exposed to asbestos when cutting pipes to length, stripping away old insulation, scraping out hardened joint compound or replacing gaskets. Almost all plumbing materials during that time were made with asbestos.
Exposure occurred at various worksites, including residential homes, power plants, shipyards and more. While manufacturers eventually phased out products that contained asbestos, workers continue to receive life-changing diagnoses related to their exposure today.
Nemeroff Law’s investigators can reconstruct decades-old exposure histories across jobsites, employers and product manufacturers, even with limited employment records or if the original jobsite no longer exists.
Common Plumbing Tasks
Many plumbing tasks resulted in asbestos exposure for workers, including cutting cement pipes, disposing of debris, drilling into walls and more. Disrupting contaminated materials could release asbestos into the air, resulting in inhalation.
High-Exposure Plumbing Tasks
- Breaking open boiler insulation for repair
- Cutting asbestos cement pipe for water, sewer and drain lines
- Disposing of cleanup debris at end of shift
- Drilling into ceilings, walls and floors to run new lines
- Mixing or troweling joint compound
- Removing or replacing pipe wrap and lagging
- Sanding or grinding old gasket material from valve seats
- Sawing or scoring transite for HVAC vent flues
- Scraping hardened joint compound and pipe mud
Drilling, cutting, sanding, scraping, or cutting into plumbing materials constructed before 1980 can disturb the asbestos fibers in the materials. Once these thin fibers are airborne, they can become inhaled. Years later, several plumbers have developed mesothelioma from their worksites.
Worksites known for Asbestos Exposure
Some of the most common job sites for asbestos exposure included military installations, power plants and steel mills. Exposure also occurred in residential homes built before 1980, putting homeowners at risk.
Common Work Sites
- Commercial buildings and office towers
- Military installations
- Paper mills
- Power plants
- Residential homes built before 1980
- Refineries and chemical plants
- Shipyards and naval bases
- Steel mills
Exposure to asbestos fibers with high concentrations of dust and limited ventilation, particularly in crawlspaces, attics, basements, pipe chases and boiler rooms, put workers at a higher risk of health issues.
When Plumbers Were Exposed
Plumbers were exposed to asbestos from the early 1900s through the mid-1980s. This is because plumbing products during that time contained asbestos. Usage of these products peaked during the post-WWII building boom.
- Pre-1940s: Manufacturers primarily used asbestos in cement pipe and boiler insulation.
- 1940s to 1960s: This era was when asbestos use peaked. Nearly every category of plumbing-related insulation, pipe lagging, joint compound and packing material contained it.
- 1970s: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began enacting rules to limit exposure, including the Clean Air Act. Use in new construction began to decline at this point.
- 1980s: Manufacturers phased out asbestos in plumbing-related products, though some companies continued to use asbestos in gaskets and cement pipes into the mid-1980s.
Asbestos still poses risks today since it remains embedded in older buildings and homes. Disturbance during repairs or renovations can release microscopic fibers, posing dangers to plumbers, pipefitters and homeowners.
Asbestos Products in Plumbing Work
Almost all materials that plumbers handled before regulations were tightened in the late 1970s and 1980s contained asbestos. This included everything from cement and transite pipe to welding rods and more.
Boilers, Furnaces and Heating Systems
In boilers, furnaces and heating systems, asbestos-containing components included block insulation, door rope gasket and refractory cement. Combustion Engineering, Babcock & Wilcox and Foster Wheeler manufactured these products.
Dangerous materials had chalky white or gray insulation panels and woven rope. These products were used on the doors of crawlspaces and basements, causing asbestos fibers to be released in areas with little ventilation.
Cement and Transite Pipe
Asbestos cement pipes were often produced by Johns-Manville under the name Transite. These products were used for a variety of lines, including water, sewer, drain and HVAC vent flues.
Asbestos was commonly seen in gray, rigid, cement-like pipes. Cutting the pipes to length could expose plumbers to asbestos dust.
Gaskets, Valve Packing and Rope
Gaskets, valve packing and rope helped seal joints to withstand steam, water and chemical lines. Asbestos-containing materials looked like woven cord, sheet material or rings.
Garlock, Raybestos-Manhattan, Anchor Packing and John Crane were common brands. Asbestos exposure would commonly occur from wire-brushing or sanding the seat during replacement, resulting in a large amount of dust.
Heat Shields and Millboard
The heat shields made from rigid gray, sometimes silver-coated panels were used on hot water heaters, behind stoves and on flues. Along with asbestos millboard, which looked like cardboard sheets, these materials created asbestos hazards for plumbers.
Joint Compound and Mud
Asbestos was added to enhance durability and fire resistance in drywall mud, pipe joint mud and plaster. Georgia-Pacific Ready-Mix, U.S. Gypsum and National Gypsum manufactured these products.
When sanded, scraped or mixed dry, these materials created dust that could expose plumbers to asbestos.
Pipe Insulation and Lagging
One of the most common sources of asbestos exposure for plumbers was pipe insulation and lagging. These products help regulate temperatures in pipes. Brand names included Kaylo (Owens-Illinois) and Unibestos (Pittsburgh Corning).
These corrugated sleeves were usually white or gray. Sometimes, they were wrapped in canvas and coated with dust from prior repairs. Cutting, removing or replacing wrap during pipe repair could lead to exposure.
Sealants, Mastic and Adhesives
Mastic, caulk and various roofing and duct adhesives were used to seal joints and ducts. Plumbers also used them for installing tubs and showers. Scraping and removing these products put plumbers at risk of exposure to asbestos dust.
Welding Rods
From pipe welding to ship welding, asbestos was found in welding rods that plumbers used daily. Although the welding work itself was brief, the high levels of dust generated by the work led to greater exposure.
Manufacturers of Asbestos Plumbing Products
If you worked as a plumber or pipefitter before the mid-1980s, there’s a strong chance that you handled products from manufacturers like Anchor Packing, Foster Wheeler and other major companies. These manufacturers produced asbestos-containing products and materials sold to commercial, industrial and residential job sites across the country.
Major Product Manufacturers
- Anchor Packing: Valve and pump packing
- Babcock & Wilcox: Boiler insulation and refractory
- Combustion Engineering: Boiler insulation and refractory
- Foster Wheeler: Boilers and heat exchangers
- Garlock: Gaskets and valve packing
- Georgia-Pacific: Joint compound and drywall
- John Crane: Gaskets and packing
- Johns-Manville: Asbestos cement pipe (Transite), pipe insulation and joint compound
- National Gypsum: Joint compound and plaster
- Owens-Corning: Pipe insulation and fireproofing
- Owens-Illinois: Kaylo pipe insulation
- Pittsburgh Corning: Unibestos pipe insulation
- Raybestos-Manhattan: Gaskets and brake materials
- U.S. Gypsum: Joint compound and drywall mud
- W.R. Grace, Celotex, GAF and Union Carbide: Various asbestos-containing products
Many of these manufacturers have established asbestos trust funds after declaring bankruptcy. This allows them to pay claims today. If you don’t remember the brand names, don’t worry. Our mesothelioma attorneys and investigators can gather your exposure history from work records, union books, employer documentation and product databases to help you recover compensation.
Mesothelioma and Plumbers
Former plumbers are nearly 16 times more likely to develop mesothelioma than the general population. For decades, plumbers handled materials that contained asbestos. When disturbed, these materials would release microscopic fibers that workers inhaled, triggering aggressive cancers like mesothelioma.
In 80% of cases, mesothelioma attacks the pleural linings of the chest. Roughly 15% to 20% of cases manifest in the abdomen. Former plumbers have a 10 times higher chance of pleural thickening than the general population. While not every exposed plumber gets sick, this occupational risk means that retired plumbers potentially face lifelong health conditions from the airborne asbestos fibers they inhaled while working on past jobsites.
- Asbestosis: Asbestosis is not cancer. However, it can cause chronic and progressive scarring of lung tissue from inhaling asbestos fibers. Plumbers with asbestosis experience shortness of breath, a dry cough and chest tightness. The condition often serves as the foundation for compensation claims.
- Lung cancer: Lung cancer occurs when tumors begin growing throughout the lungs, while Mesothelioma is cancer in the outer lining of the lungs, stomach, or testes. Exposure to asbestos increases lung cancer risk. This risk multiplies when combined with smoking or being around secondhand smoke.
- Pleural plaques and thickening: The earliest visible signs on chest X-rays or CT scans are plaques and thickening of the pleural lining in the chest cavity. You likely won’t know it’s there because it tends to be painless. Getting regular scans is important to check for it if you worked as a plumber. These scans can show signs of your past asbestos exposure. While plaques alone don’t mean you have cancer, monitoring is important to document your condition.
Mesothelioma can take 20 to 50 years to appear after exposure. Asbestosis and pleural plaques may show up earlier on imaging tests, though they often go undiagnosed until symptoms develop. This latency period is why plumbers who retired back in the 1990s or 2000s may still receive their first diagnosis today.
Symptoms Plumbers Should Watch For
Asbestos exposure can lead to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss and more. While exposure does not always mean you will be diagnosed with a related illness, it is important to be mindful of potential symptoms.
Symptoms To Watch
- Abdominal swelling or pain
- Chest pain or chest tightness
- Fatigue
- Fluid buildup around the lungs
- Low-grade fever or night sweats
- Lumps under the skin on the chest
- Persistent dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Unexplained weight loss
Many plumbers mistake these symptoms for age or other lung conditions before getting an accurate diagnosis. If you’ve had asbestos exposure during your plumbing career, you are or were a smoker and you’re noticing any of these signs, discuss them with your doctor.
Secondhand Exposure for Plumbers’ Families
Anyone who lived with plumbers was also exposed to those asbestos fibers. Plumbers who worked with asbestos-containing materials came home covered in dangerous dust on their work boots, work clothes, hair and tools.
If you are the spouse, partner or adult child of a plumber and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases, the same compensation options apply to you. Talk with our team at Nemeroff Law, where we’ve helped many family members of plumbers and pipefitters secure compensation.
Compensation Options for Plumbers and Their Families
Plumbers, pipefitters and their families who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis have several compensation options, including lawsuits, VA benefits and more . Most people pursue multiple options simultaneously.
Compensation Options Available
- Asbestos trust funds: More than 60 asbestos-related manufacturers and companies have filed for bankruptcy but set aside trust funds to pay future claims. Total trust assets exceed $30 billion. Plumbers often qualify for claims against multiple trusts because they worked with many products from a variety of manufacturers.
- Personal-injury lawsuits against product manufacturers: Most asbestos cases target the companies that produced materials that plumbers used daily at work, such as insulation, gaskets, pipe and joint compound. Many of these manufacturers still have funds to pay out lawsuits.
- VA and military benefits: Some plumbers served in the U.S. Navy or other branches of the armed forces. Veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma may be eligible for VA disability compensation. This usually provides more than $4,000 per month, VA healthcare and survivor benefits.
- Workers’ compensation: Plumbers may be able to link their exposure on the job to their disease. The eligibility requirements and amount will vary by state and deadlines are usually short. These claims are often pursued in tandem with asbestos lawsuits.
- Wrongful death and family compensation: Surviving spouses, children and other family members can file claims after the death of a loved one from an asbestos-related disease. Compensation can include lost income, loss of consortium, funeral costs and emotional distress.
Like all personal injury cases, there is a statute of limitations that sets a time limit on how long you have to file your lawsuit. Every state is different, but the clock typically starts on the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. People facing mesothelioma should not wait to consult an attorney.
Explore your legal options now with a free case review
How Nemeroff Law Helps Plumbers and Pipefitters
At Nemeroff Law, we’ve earned a strong reputation for identifying every asbestos trust fund for which plumbers with mesothelioma qualify. Since plumbers and pipefitters handled products made by many different manufacturers, multiple trusts may apply to your situation.
Notable Nemeroff Verdicts
- $16,900,000 Mesothelioma verdict
- $14,000,000 Mesothelioma verdict
- $12,600,000 Mesothelioma verdict
Plumbers often worked at many different sites, so our investigators rebuild the timeline to show how you were exposed to asbestos during your career. Our experience allows us to pursue claims for working and retired plumbers, family members who may have experienced secondhand exposure and veteran plumbers who served in the U.S. Navy or other branches. There is no upfront cost to you because we work on a contingency fee model. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different, and the value of any case depends on the specific facts. If you were a plumber before the late 1980s or you’re a family member of someone who was, talking to your doctor and documenting where you worked are a couple of the critical steps you need to take immediately.
Explore your legal options now with a free case review
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, plumbers and pipefitters worked with pipe insulation, joint compound, cement pipe, gaskets and boiler materials that contained asbestos for most of the 20th century. Exposure occurred on residential, commercial and industrial job sites, often without any protective gear or warnings about the risks.
The early symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, persistent dry cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and fluid buildup around the lungs. These symptoms can be mistaken for age or other lung conditions before an accurate diagnosis is made.
Any plumber who has had significant asbestos exposure should tell their doctor about their work history.
Yes, asbestos fibers traveled home with plumbers on their clothing, skin, hair, tools and vehicles. Spouses doing the laundry and children who rushed to hug their parent when they came home from work may have been exposed.
Family members who developed mesothelioma later on also have legal claims through secondary exposure, which are cases Nemeroff Law represents.
In many cases, yes. Most asbestos lawsuits focus on the manufacturers of the materials rather than the employer. Many of the manufacturers that produced asbestos-containing materials are still in business, while others have set up asbestos trust funds to continue paying claims.
Our investigators can reconstruct your exposure history even if the job site no longer exists or you do not remember which products you worked with.
The time limits, or statutes of limitations, vary by state. The clock starts ticking on the date you’re diagnosed, not the date you were exposed. These deadlines tend to be short. Wrongful death claims have their own deadlines.
People facing mesothelioma should consult an attorney immediately after diagnosis. At Nemeroff Law, we offer free, no-obligation case reviews to help you understand your legal options.
D. Carl Money
D. Carl Money is a mesothelioma trial attorney and retired Army Lt. Col. licensed in TX, NY and the UK.