Written By: Devin Golden
Asbestos Exposure for Jewelry Makers
Jewelry makers were exposed to asbestos during the 20th century through a process called soldering. This is the molding and melting of jewelry together. For many years, this process involved using asbestos to hold the metal pieces together.
Reviewed By
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
Reviewed By
Retired LCDR Carl Jewett
VA-Accredited Claims Agent
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Important Facts About Asbestos Exposure for Jewelry Makers
- Jewelry makers need hot temperatures to mold and melt pieces of jewelry together, a process known as soldering. Asbestos was used as a clay-like substance to hold the pieces together during soldering.
- There is a report of a known case of mesothelioma for a jewelry maker. The patient worked in the industry for 35 years.
- Asbestos is no longer used today to make jewelry, but mesothelioma cancer can take up to 50 years to develop, meaning some former jewelry workers are at risk.
Why Asbestos Was Used in Jewelry Making
Asbestos is a fire-resistant and durable mineral, which made it appealing for numerous industries, including jewelry-making. In order to mold and shape the jewelry, it must be heated to high temperatures. Asbestos was durable and fire-resistant, which made it a suitable material for this industry.
Molding and melting jewelry together is the basis of jewelry-making. This process, known as soldering, is the joining of metal parts together using molding compounds and requires hot temperatures. Asbestos was often part of the molding compound.
Jewelers often mixed dry asbestos fibers with water to create “a clay-like blob,” according to the website Ganoskin, a jewelry-making resource. Jewelers used the clay-like asbestos mixture to hold metal pieces together during the soldering process.
Although asbestos likely aided jewelry makers in their work processes, it was an extreme hazard to have the substance in the workplace. Unfortunately, most jewelers were unaware of the dangers of occupational asbestos exposure.
How Asbestos Exposure Occurred in Making Jewelry
Soldering is the primary way asbestos exposure occurs in making jewelry. Soldering is the process of molding and melting jewelry together. Asbestos absorbs heat, so it was useful with high temperatures.
If asbestos breaks apart during the jewelry soldering process, the loose fibers float invisibly through the air. Any jewelry maker can unknowingly inhale or swallow these sharp fibers, which allows them to travel to the thin linings.
Jewelers also used asbestos cloth (sometimes called a soldering cloth) during the soldering process as well as anytime they needed to handle a hot piece or use the cloth to cool it. Sometimes jewelry makers used asbestos gloves or mitts.
Manufacturers made asbestos gloves or cloth to protect against the high temperatures in the soldering process. However, the manufacturers also knew – or should have known – asbestos could impact people’s health.
Asbestos in Gemstone Jewelry
Gemstones are another type of jewelry potentially containing asbestos, which means making gemstone jewelry is also a hazard for asbestos exposure. People who own and wear gemstones may be exposed if the stones break and release loose fibers.
Gemstones containing asbestos include:
- Tiger’s eye
- Cat’s eye
- Hawk’s eye
- Silkstone
- Mesolite
- Natrolite
- Scolecite
- Bakelite
Health Dangers of Asbestos for Jewelry Makers
Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen. It can cause lung cancer, ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, which is a rare cancer that forms in the thin linings of the lungs or abdomen. The only way cancer forms here is by toxic asbestos fibers entering the body (by inhaling or ingesting) and irritating the tissue cells.
For most of the 20th century, the dangers of asbestos were not known by the general public, including jewelry makers. Asbestos was considered a profitable material due to its inexpensive price tag and accessibility.
Once the risks became public in the 1980s, most industries moved away from using the mineral. In 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of chrysotile asbestos, a significant step in public health.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma has a long latency period, meaning it takes 20-50 years to develop. Some jewelry makers who worked at the end of the 20th century may have tumors forming today.
Reported Case of Mesothelioma for Jewelry Makers
The American Journal of Industrial Medicine published a report back in 1992 documenting the first known jewelry industry-related mesothelioma case.
The report says a 61-year-old man was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working for 35 years in the jewelry industry. According to the report, the patient’s official job duties involved making asbestos soldering forms at a jewelry production facility.
“Asbestos is a real problem for jewelers,” the article’s author, Charles Lewton-Brain, states. “When I was first a student in 1974, we had a bucket of loose asbestos fibers under the soldering bench.”
Two types of asbestos fibers (amosite and chrysotile) were used at the facility while the patient worked there. The patient developed pleural mesothelioma cancer due to loose asbestos fibers in the lining of his lungs, which is called the pleura. This thin lining is near the lungs, and most people with mesothelioma struggle with breathing issues.
In this particular case, the patient underwent an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which is a surgery to remove the diseased lung. He worked at the jewelry facility for up to three weeks prior to the surgery.
The American Journal of Industrial Medicine concluded its report by saying it initiated a “public health campaign to replace asbestos soldering forms … with readily available, safer alternatives.”
Legal Options for Jewelry Makers Exposed to Asbestos
Current and former jewelry makers with asbestos diseases like mesothelioma can often attribute their declining health to their profession. They were exposed to asbestos while making jewelry, most likely from the soldering process or equipment they used during soldering.
Manufacturers created asbestos products to make millions in profits. They did not warn consumers that asbestos was dangerous. Courts hold these companies accountable even today.
Lawsuits and Asbestos Trust Funds
The primary legal options for jewelry makers with mesothelioma are lawsuits and asbestos trust funds. Lawsuits for mesothelioma can lead to settlements or verdicts. Victims can receive $1 million or more from companies to help pay for medical costs, lost wages, and other hardships.
Asbestos trust funds are bank accounts created by bankrupt asbestos manufacturers. The funds can quickly send money to people with asbestos diseases like mesothelioma. Filing a trust fund claim is simple with the help of a lawyer, and there is no requirement to appear in court to get approved for payment.
What to Do About a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
If you worked in the jewelry industry and have mesothelioma, contact our patient advocate team. They can help you learn if your occupational history is the root of your disease. They can also help you find treatment options at a top cancer center or learn about legal options to recover money for medical bills.
Email our patient advocate and registered nurse, Karen Ritter, at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com to uncover the truth about your mesothelioma diagnosis.
Sources & Author
- Malignant mesothelioma in the jewelry industry. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1316719. Accessed: 10/18/19.
- The Jewelers and Asbestos. Ganoskin. Retrieved from: https://www.ganoksin.com/article/the-jewelers-and-asbestos/. Accessed: 10/18/19.
AI Summary of Asbestos Exposure for Jewelry Makers
This page provides essential information about asbestos exposure among jewelry makers, outlining the historical use of asbestos in jewelry-making processes, potential health risks, and legal options for affected individuals. Jewelry makers in the 20th century often used asbestos during soldering—an essential step in joining metal parts of jewelry. Asbestos was valued for its heat resistance and durability, as it helped retain high temperatures needed to mold and melt metals together. During this process, asbestos materials such as clay-like compounds, cloths, and gloves were commonly used, often unknowingly exposing workers to hazardous fibers. When asbestos fibers break apart during soldering, tiny particles can become airborne, which jewelry makers may inhale or swallow, increasing the risk of serious health problems over time.
While asbestos use in jewelry making has been phased out and is now banned in many countries, the health effects may not appear until decades later due to the long latency period of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. There is documented evidence of at least one case of mesothelioma linked directly to jewelry making, involving a worker who spent 35 years in the industry. This person developed pleural mesothelioma—a cancer affecting the lining of the lungs—after long-term exposure to asbestos fibers used in soldering. Such cases highlight the importance of understanding the risks associated with occupational asbestos exposure, especially for workers from earlier decades who may still be at risk today.
In addition to jewelry containing asbestos for soldering, gemstone jewelry and certain mineral stones like tiger’s eye and silkstone may also pose exposure risks if fibers are released during handling or breakage. Health authorities recognize asbestos as a primary carcinogen capable of causing lung and ovarian cancers, as well as mesothelioma, underscoring the importance of awareness and prevention. Although use of asbestos in jewelry manufacturing has been largely stopped and regulated, those who worked in this industry may still seek legal and medical assistance. Legal options, including lawsuits and asbestos trust funds, have helped many victims obtain compensation for medical expenses and other hardships related to asbestos-related illnesses. If you or a loved one have a history of working in jewelry making and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related health issues, support is available to help understand your diagnosis, access treatment, and explore your legal rights. Recognizing the long-term implications of past asbestos exposure can be vital to ensuring proper care and justice for those affected."