8 Industries That Used the Most Asbestos: 27 Million Workers Exposed to 3,000+ Products

Eight industries consumed more than 95% of the 31 million metric tons of asbestos used in the United States between 1900 and 2003, exposing an estimated 27 million workers to a mineral now confirmed to cause mesothelioma [10], lung cancer, and asbestosis.^[2] More than 3,000 commercial products contained asbestos at the height of industrial use, and U.S. consumption peaked at 803,000 metric tons in a single year — 1973.^[1]

Executive Summary

Asbestos was woven into American industry for most of the 20th century. Construction consumed roughly 70% of all supply, followed by shipbuilding, manufacturing, automotive, power generation, chemical processing, mining, and insulation trades. The mineral appeared in more than 3,000 products — from floor tiles and pipe insulation to brake pads and gaskets. NIOSH estimates that 27 million workers were exposed between 1940 and 1979 alone. Insulation workers faced a mesothelioma risk 46 times greater than the general population, and shipyard workers experienced concentrated exposure in confined below-deck spaces. Despite decades of regulation, the EPA did not finalize a comprehensive chrysotile ban until 2024. Workers exposed decades ago are still being diagnosed with mesothelioma today due to the disease's 15-to-50-year latency period. Over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds remains available for compensation.

27 Million

U.S. workers exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979 (NIOSH estimate)

3,000+

Commercial products that contained asbestos at the peak of industrial use

803,000

Metric tons of asbestos consumed in the U.S. in 1973, the peak year

46x

Insulation workers' mesothelioma risk compared to the general population

What Are the Key Facts About Industrial Asbestos Use in America?

27 million workers exposed: An estimated 27 million workers had occupational exposure to the mineral between 1940 and 1979, spanning construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing, and dozens of other industries.^[4]
3,000+ asbestos products: EPA and OSHA documented more than 3,000 commercial products containing the mineral, from building materials to automotive components.^[1]
Construction consumed 70% of all asbestos: The construction industry was the single largest consumer, using the fiber in roofing, flooring, insulation, cement, and fireproofing products.^[11]
Peak consumption: 803,000 metric tons (1973): U.S. consumption of the mineral peaked in 1973, driven by construction booms and industrial demand.^[2]
Insulation workers: 46x mesothelioma risk: Workers who installed and removed thermal insulation containing the fiber had the highest documented mesothelioma rates of any occupation.^[15]
Shipyard workers: an estimated 4.5 million exposed in WWII alone: The wartime shipbuilding surge exposed millions of workers to the fiber in confined spaces below deck.^[13]
Manufacturing: 22% of mesothelioma cases: The manufacturing sector accounted for the highest proportion of mesothelioma cases in the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank database.^[16]
Automotive: every brake job released fibers: Brake pads, clutch facings, and transmission components contained chrysotile through the early 1990s.^[3]
15-50 year latency: Mesothelioma does not appear for decades after exposure, meaning workers from the 1970s and 1980s are still being diagnosed today.^[5]
$30+ billion in trust funds: Bankrupt asbestos manufacturers established trust funds that remain available to workers and their families.^[10]

Which Industries Consumed the Most Asbestos in the United States?

Asbestos was not limited to one sector — it saturated American industry from the 1920s through the 1980s. Eight industries accounted for the vast majority of consumption, each relying on the mineral for its heat resistance, tensile strength, and chemical durability.^[1]

"When I work with clients mapping their exposure history, the same pattern repeats: asbestos was everywhere in their workplace. Construction sites, shipyards, factories, power plants — it wasn't one product or one job. It was the building materials, the protective equipment, the machinery components, and the insulation surrounding every pipe and boiler in the facility."
— Yvette Abrego, Senior Client Manager, Danziger & De Llano

1. Construction (approximately 70% of all U.S. asbestos). The construction industry was the dominant consumer. The mineral went into roofing shingles and felt, vinyl floor tiles (especially 9x9-inch tiles manufactured before 1981), cement pipes and sheets, spray-on fireproofing, joint compound, acoustic ceiling tiles, and thermal insulation for pipes and boilers. Workers in virtually every construction trade — carpenters, plumbers, electricians, drywall finishers, roofers, and demolition crews — encountered asbestos exposure [9] on the job.^[11]

2. Shipbuilding and maritime (an estimated 4.5 million workers exposed during WWII). The fiber insulated every steam pipe, boiler, turbine, and bulkhead on naval and commercial vessels. Shipyard workers applied ACM insulation in confined spaces with minimal ventilation, creating fiber concentrations far above safe limits. A landmark study by Dr. Irving Selikoff documented that shipyard insulators developed mesothelioma at rates that dwarfed the general population.^[13]

3. Manufacturing (22% of all mesothelioma cases). Glass factories, paper mills, rubber plants, and textile mills all used the mineral in equipment and, in some cases, manufactured ACM products directly. Textile workers who wove raw fiber into fabric, gloves, and fire blankets had the most direct exposure. According to industry records, some rubber manufacturing plants consumed thousands of pounds of the mineral daily to produce brake linings and gaskets.^[16]

4. Automotive. Brake pads, brake shoes, clutch facings, transmission components, and hood liners contained chrysotile. Auto mechanics inhaled fiber-laden dust during every brake and clutch repair. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler specified ACM friction materials in their vehicles through the early 1990s.^[3]

5. Power generation. Coal-fired, oil-fired, and nuclear power plants used the mineral extensively in boiler insulation, turbine lagging, pipe wrapping, and electrical wiring insulation. Workers who maintained these systems — boilermakers, pipefitters, millwrights, and electricians — faced repeated exposure over careers spanning decades.^[4]

6. Chemical and petrochemical processing. Refineries and chemical plants required ACM gaskets, valve packing, and pipe insulation throughout high-temperature processing systems. Maintenance shutdowns ("turnarounds") required workers to remove and replace these materials across entire facilities.^[3]

7. Mining and milling. Workers who extracted the mineral from open-pit and underground mines — primarily in Montana, Vermont, California, and Arizona — had the most concentrated exposure. The Libby, Montana vermiculite mine contaminated an entire community, causing hundreds of deaths from asbestos-related disease — with one mortality review identifying nearly 700 asbestos-related deaths in the area between 1979 and 2011.^[4]

8. Insulation trades. Insulators (also called laggers) installed ACM thermal insulation on pipes, boilers, and ductwork across every industrial and commercial setting. Their mesothelioma risk — 46 times greater than the general population — was the highest of any occupation.^[15]

What Asbestos-Containing Products Were Most Common in the Workplace?

More than 3,000 products contained asbestos, but certain categories dominated occupational exposure patterns [8]. The products that generated the most worker exposure were those that were routinely cut, drilled, sanded, stripped, or replaced — activities that released microscopic fibers into the air.^[1]

"The product types tell you who was exposed. Pipe insulation means pipefitters and boilermakers. Floor tiles mean custodians and renovation workers. Brake pads mean auto mechanics. Gaskets mean refinery and power plant workers. When we trace a client's exposure, the products lead us directly to the responsible manufacturers and the trust funds that can provide compensation."
— Yvette Abrego, Senior Client Manager, Danziger & De Llano

Thermal insulation products — pipe insulation, boiler lagging, block insulation, and insulating cement — generated the highest fiber concentrations during installation and removal. These products contained 15% to 100% asbestos and were used in every industry that operated steam or high-temperature equipment. Johns-Manville, Owens-Illinois, and Fibreboard were among the largest manufacturers.^[4]

Building materials constituted the largest volume category. Cement-bonded (transite) sheets and pipes, vinyl floor tiles and mastic adhesive, acoustic ceiling tiles, spray-on fireproofing, and roofing products accounted for approximately 70% of all the mineral consumed in the U.S. These products were present in schools, offices, hospitals, and homes built before 1980.^[11]

Friction materials — brake pads, brake shoes, clutch facings, and elevator brake linings — released harmful fibers through normal wear and during replacement. A single brake job could release millions of fibers into the air. These products were used in passenger vehicles, trucks, heavy equipment, aircraft, and industrial machinery.^[3]

Gaskets, packing, and sealing materials were used throughout chemical plants, refineries, power plants, and water treatment facilities to seal joints in piping systems operating at high temperatures and pressures. Workers cut gasket material from sheets, creating direct fiber exposure. A.W. Chesterton, Garlock, and John Crane were major manufacturers.^[3]

Asbestos textiles — woven cloth, rope, tape, fire blankets, and protective clothing — were manufactured in textile mills where workers handled raw asbestos fibers directly. These products were then distributed to welders, firefighters, foundry workers, and glass workers who wore them as protective equipment, creating a secondary exposure chain.^[4]

How Did Construction Become the Largest Consumer of Asbestos?

Construction's dominance stemmed from a simple calculation: the mineral was cheap, fireproof, durable, and available in massive quantities. Building codes in many jurisdictions required fireproofing materials in commercial and institutional buildings, and ACM products met those requirements at a fraction of the cost of alternatives.^[11]

"Construction workers are still the largest group of asbestos-exposed clients we represent. The reason is simple: the buildings are still standing. A pipefitter who worked in a 1960s high-rise is long retired, but someone has to maintain those pipes. And someone else will eventually demolish that building. Each generation of workers inherits the exposure risk from the generation before."
— Yvette Abrego, Senior Client Manager, Danziger & De Llano

The post-war construction boom from the late 1940s through the 1970s coincided precisely with peak asbestos production. Millions of homes, schools, offices, and industrial buildings were constructed with ACM during this period. According to EPA estimates, tens of thousands of schools and hundreds of thousands of public and commercial buildings contained these materials.^[1]

Construction trades with the highest documented exposure include insulation workers (46x mesothelioma risk^[15]), pipefitters, plumbers, sheet metal workers, drywall finishers who sanded ACM joint compound, roofers who cut and nailed fiber-cement shingles, and floor tile installers who dry-scraped ACM mastic. OSHA's asbestos-in-construction standard (29 CFR 1926.1101) specifically addresses these exposure scenarios.^[11]

The ongoing risk is renovation and demolition. Workers who renovate or demolish pre-1980 buildings encounter the same ACM products that were installed decades ago — now deteriorated and more prone to releasing fibers. OSHA requires hazard surveys before disturbing building materials in structures of a certain age, but enforcement remains inconsistent.^[3]

Why Were Shipyard and Maritime Workers Among the Most Heavily Exposed?

Shipyard workers experienced some of the most concentrated exposure in any industry because of three compounding factors: the volume of the mineral on each vessel, the confined spaces where installation and repair occurred, and the sheer number of workers mobilized during wartime.^[5]

During World War II, U.S. shipyards employed an estimated 4.5 million workers building and repairing naval and merchant vessels. Every ship contained tons of the mineral — in boiler insulation, pipe lagging, turbine packing, bulkhead panels, and gaskets throughout the engine room and machinery spaces. Workers applied, cut, and shaped ACM insulation in enclosed compartments with poor ventilation, where fiber counts could reach hundreds of times the current OSHA permissible exposure limit of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter.^[13]

"Shipyard cases are some of the clearest we see. The exposure was intense, well-documented, and often involved multiple asbestos product manufacturers supplying the same vessel. We can identify the specific products, the specific ships, and the specific job duties — and multiple trust funds typically apply to a single worker's exposure history."
— Yvette Abrego, Senior Client Manager, Danziger & De Llano

Dr. Irving Selikoff's landmark research on insulation workers at the New York and New Jersey shipyards demonstrated that exposure-related diseases appeared 15 to 40 years after initial contact. His studies, beginning in the 1960s, established the causal link between occupational exposure and mesothelioma that became the foundation for asbestos litigation in the United States.^[13][15]

What Role Did Manufacturing Play in Asbestos Exposure?

Manufacturing workers faced a dual exposure problem: the mineral in the equipment they operated and ACM in the products they manufactured. The manufacturing sector accounted for 22% of mesothelioma cases in the National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank database — the highest proportion of any industry.^[16]

Asbestos textile and insulation mills were the most hazardous manufacturing environments. Workers at textile mills in Manville, New Jersey (Johns-Manville) and Ambler, Pennsylvania handled raw fibers directly — mixing, carding, spinning, and weaving them into cloth, rope, and fire blankets. At the Pittsburgh Corning insulation plant in Tyler, Texas, workers manufactured amosite insulation products under conditions so severe that the equipment was eventually buried after the plant closed in 1972. These workers breathed toxic dust throughout their shifts, and many carried fibers home on their clothing, exposing their families to secondhand contact.^[5]

Glass factories used the fiber in furnace insulation, annealing lehrs, boiler jackets, gaskets, and protective equipment. Workers at glass manufacturing facilities encountered the mineral during maintenance, equipment overhauls, and daily operations where they handled ACM-wrapped tools and wore protective gloves and aprons made from the material.^[4]

Paper mills relied on the fiber in dryer felts, steam system insulation, black liquor recovery boilers, and building materials. Maintenance workers who replaced dryer felts faced acute exposure events — felts that had been under immense pressure for weeks had to be chiseled and pried away, releasing large quantities of fibers. A review in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine found that paper mill maintenance workers had an increased risk of malignant mesothelioma, indicating significant exposure to the mineral in this occupational group.^[17]

Rubber and tire plants used raw fiber as a component in brake linings, gaskets, and friction materials. Workers mixed the mineral directly into rubber compounds and dusted ACM talc onto molds to prevent sticking. The vulcanization process occurred in fiber-lined presses and autoclaves.^[4]

What Legal Options Exist for Workers Exposed to Asbestos in These Industries?

Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis from occupational exposure to the mineral have multiple avenues for pursuing compensation — regardless of how many decades have passed since exposure. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can evaluate your complete work history, identify all responsible manufacturers, and pursue maximum recovery.^[10]

"Most of our clients worked in multiple industries over their careers — construction in their 20s, a factory in their 30s, maybe a power plant later. Each job means different asbestos products and different responsible companies. A thorough exposure history is what turns a single claim into multiple trust fund filings and a stronger lawsuit."
— Yvette Abrego, Senior Client Manager, Danziger & De Llano

Personal injury lawsuits target the manufacturers of the specific ACM products a worker encountered. Johns-Manville, Owens-Illinois, W.R. Grace, and dozens of other companies manufactured the insulation, gaskets, floor tiles, and brake materials that caused exposure. Mesothelioma settlements typically average between $1 million and $1.4 million, while trial verdicts can reach significantly higher amounts.^[10]

Asbestos trust fund claims provide compensation from funds established by bankrupt manufacturers. Over $30 billion remains available across more than 60 active trusts. Workers who were exposed to products from multiple manufacturers can file claims against multiple trusts simultaneously. Trust fund claims do not require a lawsuit and can be resolved faster than litigation.^[10]

Workers' compensation benefits cover medical treatment and a portion of lost wages. Filing a workers' compensation claim does not prevent you from also pursuing personal injury lawsuits and trust fund claims against product manufacturers.

Veterans benefits are available to military personnel who were exposed to the mineral during service. The VA recognizes exposure-related diseases as service-connected conditions. Veterans can receive VA disability compensation concurrently with trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Statutes of limitations for mesothelioma typically begin at the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 15 to 50 years, workers exposed in the 1960s through the 1980s are still within their filing window when diagnosed today.^[5]

How Can You Take the Next Step?

If you worked in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing, automotive, power generation, or any other industry where asbestos was used — and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis — you may be entitled to significant compensation. Take our free case evaluation quiz to understand your potential claim, or contact the attorneys at Danziger & De Llano at (866) 222-9990 for a confidential consultation.

Time matters. Statutes of limitations apply to asbestos disease claims, and the sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be. Consultations are free, and we handle all cases on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which industry used the most asbestos in the United States?

The construction industry consumed approximately 70% of all asbestos used in the United States. Asbestos was incorporated into roofing materials, floor tiles, cement pipes, insulation, joint compound, and fireproofing products used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings from the 1920s through the 1980s. Construction workers, insulation installers, plumbers, electricians, and demolition crews all faced significant exposure.

How many products contained asbestos?

More than 3,000 commercial products contained asbestos, according to EPA and OSHA documentation. These ranged from building materials like floor tiles and cement sheets to industrial products like brake pads, gaskets, and pipe insulation. The U.S. consumed over 803,000 metric tons of asbestos at its peak in 1973, with construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive industries accounting for the vast majority.

What jobs had the highest risk of asbestos exposure?

Insulation workers (also called laggers), shipyard workers, boilermakers, pipefitters, and asbestos textile workers faced the highest documented exposure levels. Insulation workers had a mesothelioma risk more than 46 times greater than the general population. Shipyard workers experienced concentrated exposure in confined spaces below deck. Construction tradespeople, power plant workers, and automotive mechanics also faced significant occupational exposure.

When did industries stop using asbestos?

Most U.S. industries reduced asbestos use sharply between 1979 and 1989 after EPA regulations and growing litigation. However, asbestos was never fully banned in the United States until the EPA finalized a comprehensive ban on chrysotile asbestos in March 2024, effective in 2025. Some products — including certain automotive parts, roofing materials, and industrial gaskets — legally contained asbestos for decades after the initial regulatory push.

Can workers exposed to asbestos decades ago still file claims?

Yes. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 15 to 50 years, workers exposed in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are still being diagnosed today. Statutes of limitations for mesothelioma claims typically begin at the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Over $30 billion remains available in asbestos bankruptcy trust funds, and workers or their families can pursue personal injury lawsuits, trust fund claims, and workers' compensation benefits.

What asbestos products are still found in older buildings?

Older buildings constructed before 1980 commonly contain asbestos in floor tiles (especially 9x9-inch vinyl tiles), pipe insulation, boiler lagging, ceiling tiles, spray-on fireproofing, joint compound, roofing shingles, and cement siding. These materials are not dangerous when intact and undisturbed, but renovation, demolition, or deterioration can release fibers into the air. An asbestos survey is required before any renovation work in pre-1980 buildings.

Did the automotive industry use asbestos?

Yes. The automotive industry was one of the largest consumers of asbestos. Brake pads, brake shoes, clutch facings, transmission components, and hood liners routinely contained chrysotile asbestos. Auto mechanics who replaced brakes and clutches inhaled asbestos dust during every repair. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler all used asbestos-containing components in their vehicles through the early 1990s.

References

EPA - Learn About Asbestos — epa.gov
USGS - Asbestos Mineral Commodity Summaries — usgs.gov
OSHA - Asbestos Hazards and Standards — osha.gov
ATSDR - Toxicological Profile for Asbestos — atsdr.cdc.gov
NCI - Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk — cancer.gov
NIOSH - Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report — cdc.gov
EPA - Final Rule on Chrysotile Asbestos Ban (2024) — epa.gov
Occupational Exposure Index - WikiMesothelioma — wikimesothelioma.com
Asbestos Exposure - WikiMesothelioma — wikimesothelioma.com
Mesothelioma Overview - WikiMesothelioma — wikimesothelioma.com
OSHA - Asbestos in Construction — osha.gov
EPA - Actions to Protect Public from Asbestos Exposure — epa.gov
Selikoff IJ, Hammond EC - Asbestos-associated disease in United States shipyards — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
NIOSH - Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongate Mineral Particles — cdc.gov
Ribak J et al. - Malignant mesothelioma in a cohort of asbestos insulation workers (1988) — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Industry, occupation, and exposure history of mesothelioma patients in the NMVB, 2006-2022 — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Torén K et al. - Health effects of working in pulp and paper mills: malignant diseases (1996) — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Asbestos Abatement Workers Face 4 Classes of Exposure Risk — OSHA protection standards
Schools Built Before 1980 Are Asbestos Time Bombs — Building exposure risks
Industries That Used the Most Asbestos: Products and Worker Exposure — comprehensive guide to asbestos-containing products by industry