[breadcrumb]
How Can a Firefighter Get Mesothelioma by Occupational Exposure to Asbestos?
While firefighters knowingly put their lives on the line, one workplace hazard that they did not know could harm them was the presence of asbestos. Until the 1970s, many construction materials were made with asbestos, so when a building was burning, dangerous fibers from these materials would be released into the air and could be breathed by firefighters and other emergency responders. Additionally, the suits, gloves and helmets that firefighters used during this era often contained asbestos because it was resistant to heat, so even when firefighters thought they were protected, they really were not.
Where the firefighters worked could also affect their exposure level to asbestos. Some firefighters worked in the Navy aboard ship alongside damage controlmen and others. Navy ships used hundreds of products that contained asbestos, so if a fire broke out onboard, a firefighter might have been exposed to dangerous concentrations of asbestos. After the 9/11 terrorist attack, many firefighters responded to the scene and breathed in dust that was full of asbestos and other carcinogens.
Although most manufacturers have stopped adding asbestos to their products, there are some uses that are still permitted for this dangerous material, including in some construction materials. Therefore, firefighters may be exposed to asbestos in older buildings that contained these materials, as well as in new builds that also feature these items.
Locations in the United States for the Highest Employment Rates for Firefighters
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 332,400 people employed as firefighters in the United States. States with the highest employment rates for firefighters include:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Ohio
- Illinois
Similar Occupations as Firefighters
Similar occupations as firefighters include:
- EMTs
- Fire inspectors
- Forest and conservation workers
- Hazardous materials removal workers
- Paramedics
- Police and detectives
Lawsuits and Settlements Involving Firefighters and Mesothelioma
There have been a few lawsuits filed by firefighters due to asbestos exposure, including the following:
- New York City firefighters and first responders filed a lawsuit in 2003, alleging that they were not given sufficient warning about the dangerous chemicals in the dust and debris caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The city offered a $657 million settlement for approximately 10,000 affected workers
- In 2010, 49 firefighters sued the city of Everett, Washington after being exposed to asbestos during a training exercise where the workers were placed in properties that contained asbestos. The case settled for $750,000.
- In July 2019, hundreds of San Diego firefighters and other employees sued the city for placing them in the Fire Training Academy, which city officials knew had high contamination from asbestos. The case is still pending.
Studies Related to Firefighters and Asbestos
A few studies have explored the connection between firefighters, asbestos and other occupational exposures. The following findings have been made:
- In 2013, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health made a finding for the first time regarding the increased likelihood of firefighters to develop mesothelioma when compared to the general population. Researchers found that the rate was twice as much as the rate for the general population. Additionally, researchers found that firefighters were more likely to develop respiratory, digestive or urinary system cancers.
- A Vanderbilt University study found that Navy firefighters had a higher likelihood of dying from mesothelioma, compared to many other Navy jobs.
- 70% of deaths that occur on the job are caused by cancer.
Types of Asbestos Products Used by Firefighters
Firefighters put out fires in residences, commercial buildings and industrial buildings, so they could be exposed to asbestos from virtually any construction material, such as:
- Wall and ceiling insulation
- Pipe, duct and attic insulation
- Insulation for boilers, furnaces and appliances
- Roofing shingles or felt
- Ceiling tiles
- Drywall board, tape or compound
- Flooring underlay and flooring tiles
- Mortar, masonry cement powder or joint compound
- Paint and spray-on textural coatings
- Glues, adhesives and sealants
- Cement floors, sheets and siding
- Vinyl tiles, flooring and wallpaper
- Electrical wiring insulation
- Plastic and millboard for electrical panels
- Fireproofing materials
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Used by Firefighters
Major suppliers of asbestos-containing products that firefighters may have been exposed to include the following:
- B.B. Lummus Global Inc.
- AC & S
- P. Green Industries
- Abex Corporation
- Amatex Corporation
- Bestwall Gypsum
- Burnham Holdings
- E. Thurston & Sons
- CertainTeed Corporation
- Combustion Engineering
- Congoleum Corporation
- Crown Cork and Seal
- Dana Corporation
- Eagle Picher Industries Inc.
- Ehret Magnesia
- J. Bartells Company
- Flexitallic Gasket Company
- Foseco
- GAF Corporation
- Garlock
- General Electric
- K. Porter Inc.
- Harbison Walker Refractories Co.
- Honeywell Heating
- Ingersoll Rand
- Imerys
- JT Thorpe Inc.
- John Crane
- Johns Manville
- Kaiser Aluminum
- Kelly Moore Paint Co
- Kentile Floors
- H. Detrick Company
- Malleable Iron Range Company
- Mergenthaler
- National Gypsum
- North American Refractories
- Owens Corning Fiberglass
- Pittsburgh Corning
- Porter Hayden Company
- Raybestos Manhattan Raymark Industries
- Republic Powdered Metals
- Rock Wool Manufacturing Co.
- Synkoloid Company
- The Flintkote Company
- UNARCO
- Union Carbide
- R. Grace & Co.
