Asbestos Gasket Safety Guidelines and Modern Alternatives

Some workers and mechanics may still find asbestos gaskets in older machines. Knowing the facts about where asbestos gaskets were used and how they can be risky helps people stay safe. This article explores why these gaskets contained asbestos and what can be done if someone comes in contact with them.

Why Was Asbestos Used in Gaskets?

Asbestos was used in gaskets for many years because of unique properties. It could handle high heat and pressure, making the mineral durable and also a defense against fire damage. This is why people used asbestos in products and why the mineral was very useful in factories and engines, which have high temperatures and a risk of fires.

Key reasons asbestos was chosen:

Engineers needed materials that could keep a tight seal in tough conditions. Asbestos fibers could be mixed with other materials and shaped to fit different needs. Asbestos was also easy to find and cheap to produce, which improved profits for manufacturers and other companies.

Many industries used asbestos gaskets in pipes, boilers and car engines during the 20th century. At the time, the health risks of asbestos were not fully understood. In the 1980s, the dangers became public and companies moved away from using asbestos.

Types of Gaskets Containing Asbestos

Many gaskets in the past used asbestos for its heat resistance and durability. The amount and type of asbestos depends on where the gasket was installed and the stress it would face.

Engine and Automotive Gaskets

Engine and automotive gaskets often contain asbestos because car parts need defense against high temperatures and friction. Important places where asbestos gaskets can be found include:

These gaskets keep hot gases and fluids from leaking, improving safety and performance. Because engines get hot when running, asbestos was an obvious choice during the 20th century to protect against this specific element. Mechanics and car owners who worked on vehicles during the 20th century may have installed or replaced these asbestos gaskets, sometimes without knowing the risk.

Today, mechanics and car owners who work on vintage vehicles may find asbestos gaskets in the automobile.

Industrial Equipment Gaskets

Industrial equipment – such as pumps, boilers and turbines – often used asbestos gaskets. Many factories relied on these gaskets to seal pipes, flanges and pressure vessels.

Common industrial asbestos gasket types:

• Sheet gaskets cut to fit custom shapes
• Spiral wound gaskets for high-pressure joints
• Ring gaskets used in pipes

Asbestos in these gaskets help prevent leaks of steam, oil and chemicals. Workers who installed, maintained, or removed old gaskets could be exposed to asbestos dust, especially if the gasket material was dry or brittle.

High-Pressure and High-Temperature Gaskets

Some systems require gaskets able to withstand high temperatures and pressure. Asbestos gaskets met these needs in power plants and chemical processing facilities.

Gaskets with asbestos do not crack or break down easily under heat or pressure. The strong sealing ability of asbestos prevents dangerous leaks.

How Asbestos Exposure Occurred With Gaskets

Asbestos is a natural mineral found in the soil of the earth. The substance is made of many microscopic fibers woven in a cloth-like structure. However, asbestos is volatile, and the fibers can break apart. This releases weightless, yet sharp, fibers into the air.

Asbestos gaskets can release stray fibers during common maintenance and installation tasks. Fibers could also become airborne due to friction or wear over time, along with environmental or weather events, including tornadoes and floods.

Removal and Replacement

When removing or replacing asbestos gaskets, workers often have to scrape, chip or break the old material.

These actions can release dust containing tiny asbestos fibers into the air. Most jobs take place in tight areas, such as engine rooms or inside machinery, where dust can build up quickly.

Workers usually wear little or no protection during these tasks. They may also use wire brushes, scrapers or power tools, which creates more dust. Anyone who works nearby could also breathe in or swallow the fibers.

Routine cleaning after replacement also risks stirring up leftover dust on surfaces (furniture, walls and floors).

Cutting or Shaping Custom Gaskets

Sometimes gaskets were cut or shaped from large sheets of asbestos material. This could be common in older factories, shipyards or power plants.

Cutting, sawing, or punching holes in gasket sheets loosen fibers. Using hand tools or powered cutters worsen the problem, especially in poorly ventilated and enclosed workspaces where the risk of inhaling fibers is higher.

Small scraps and dust might settle on workbenches, clothing or tools, spreading fibers even further.

People exposed:

Simple actions like brushing off clothes or sweeping cuttings could also spread fibers to other parts of the workspace.

Deterioration and Friction

Over time, asbestos gaskets could wear out, crack, or break down from heat, stress and use.

This slow breakdown led to friable (easily crumbled) asbestos, which could release fibers into the air without forceful handling or removal activities. Even the slightest touch or affect could disturb and release friable asbestos.

Gaskets exposed to constant friction or vibration, such as those in engines or pumps, shed fibers quickly. Leaks and high temperatures make gaskets fail fast, increasing dust.

Dust from old or damaged gaskets often collects in machinery housings or nearby surfaces. Touching or disturbing these parts during inspection, cleaning or repair could cause fibers to spread invisibly.

Who Was Most at Risk of Asbestos Exposure From Gaskets?

Some workers face high dangers from asbestos gasket exposure on the job. Tasks like handling, cutting, or removing these gaskets released asbestos fibers to be breathed in, swallowed, or stuck to skin and clothing.

Auto Mechanics, Auto Manufacturers and Heavy Equipment Technicians

Auto mechanics and heavy equipment technicians may work with materials that include asbestos gaskets even today. Installing gaskets into engines, transmissions or brakes could release fibers into the manufacturing plant workspace. This is how asbestos exposure for automobile mechanics happened.

Repairs on engines, transmissions or brakes involve removing old gaskets that might release asbestos dust. Everyday activities such as scraping, grinding, or cleaning gasket surfaces increase the chance of releasing harmful fibers into the air.

New gaskets manufactured before the 1980s were most likely to include asbestos. Mechanics rarely use protective masks or proper ventilation, so asbestos fibers could collect in the air and settle on clothing and work areas.

Key dangers:

• Cutting, sanding, scraping, or pounding old gaskets
• Cleaning up old gasket material
• Not using safety equipment

Industrial Maintenance Workers

Industrial maintenance workers handle equipment in factories, chemical plants and power stations. Many machines used asbestos gaskets to block heat, steam or chemicals. These workers cut, replaced, or removed gaskets during routine repairs – and may still do these tasks on old equipment.

Repair work takes place in enclosed spaces with little airflow. This makes it easy for asbestos fibers to stay in the air for hours and get into workers’ bodies.

Contact with asbestos was often daily during the height of the mineral’s use in the 20th century. Maintenance workers rarely knew the risks of asbestos exposure until many years later.

Risks included:

• Taking apart pumps, valves, flanges and pipes
• Sanding or grinding gasket surfaces
• Accidental fiber release in poorly ventilated rooms

Shipyard Workers and Military Veterans

Shipyard workers and military veterans face high exposure because ships and aircraft built during the 20th century had asbestos gaskets. Navy ships, in particular, relied on asbestos for heat and fire protection.

Ships were at risk of catching fire at sea, and asbestos was a protective ingredient. Asbestos exposure for shipyard workers happened when they cut, installed, or removed these gaskets as part of daily duties when building ships in shipyards.

Asbestos exposure for veterans was quite common during the 20th century. At sea, military members spent entire days in rooms with asbestos gaskets. Ship holds and engine rooms were small, making it easy for asbestos dust to build up. Ventilation was limited.

Veterans often lived and worked in these areas for months at a time. Even those not doing repairs in rooms with asbestos gaskets could breathe in or swallow fibers carried by other military members into shared spaces like bathrooms and eating areas.

U.S. veterans are one of the top groups with asbestos-related diseases due to the use of asbestos in military ships and aircraft.

Exposure activities:

• Installing or removing gaskets in pipes, boilers and engines
• Sanding, fitting, or scraping gasket material
• Working or living in closed spaces with asbestos dust

Health Risks From Asbestos Gasket Exposure

Asbestos gaskets can release tiny fibers into the air when they are damaged, removed, or handled. These fibers can be breathed in or swallowed and cause serious health problems.

The most notorious asbestos-related diseases are mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the lining of the lungs or abdomen. Asbestosis is a noncancerous, yet still deadly, lung-scarring disease.

While repeated exposure to asbestos creates a bigger risk, even a single instance of exposure can lead to these health issues.

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that starts in the lining around the lungs or abdomen. This lining is called the mesothelial lining. It is a layer of fluid sandwiched between two tissue layers.

Mesothelioma is only caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers enter the body through the nose or mouth, they can lodge deep into tissue in these linings. Over time, these fibers can cause damage to cells that leads to a tumor decades later.

Mesothelioma has a latency period – meaning the amount of time the disease takes to develop after asbestos enters the body – of 20-50 years.

Lung cancer can also be caused by exposure to asbestos from gaskets. The risk is higher if the person also smokes cigarettes, as this multiplies the potential ways of developing lung cancer.

Asbestos lung cancer has a latency period of 10-40 years. Common symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath, which may not appear until the disease is advanced.

The following are key facts:

• Mesothelioma usually develops 20-50 years after exposure.
• Lung cancer can appear sooner, especially if there are other risk factors.
• Both cancers have poor survival rates without early detection.

Asbestosis and Pleural Thickening

Asbestosis is a long-term lung disease caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. The fibers irritate and cause scarring of the lungs, which can lead to breathing problems.

Symptoms of asbestosis can include:

• Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
• Dry, crackling sounds when breathing
• Chest discomfort

Pleural thickening happens when the lining of the lungs swells and hardens due to asbestos exposure. This makes it harder for the lungs to expand. People with pleural thickening may experience tightness in the chest and less ability to take deep breaths.

Important notes:

• Asbestosis and pleural thickening are not cancer, but they are serious and can make breathing difficult.
• These diseases can take years to develop, and symptoms can slowly worsen.

Safe Handling and Abatement of Asbestos Gaskets

Handling asbestos gaskets requires special care to prevent disturbing the fibers, spreading them into the air, and exposing workers, residents or others. Removing and replacing these gaskets involves steps that help lower the risk of releasing dangerous fibers.

First and foremost, handling and removal should be done by a professional licensed in asbestos handling. Other people – including automobile repair workers, residents, construction workers, plant factory workers and anyone else who may come into contact with asbestos gaskets – should never try to replace, remove, or seal the gaskets or asbestos.

Professional Removal Required

Removing asbestos gaskets is not a common do-it-yourself project. Certified asbestos abatement professionals do this work because they have the right training, tools and safety equipment.

First, the area where the gasket is installed gets sealed off with plastic sheets. This helps stop asbestos fibers from spreading beyond the immediate area where the gaskets exist. Only workers with approved respirators and special suits go into the area.

Key safety steps include:

• Wetting the gasket to cut down dust
• Using hand tools and not power tools
• Sealing old gaskets in labeled bags made for hazardous waste

The disposal process follows strict rules. Used gaskets and cleaning materials go to approved landfills. Skipping these steps can put people at risk.

Modern Alternatives Available

Today, there are many safer choices for replacing old asbestos gaskets. Non-asbestos gaskets made from materials like graphite, PTFE (Teflon) and rubber composites work in most settings where gaskets are needed.

These new gaskets do not create harmful dust when handled or installed. They are also easier to buy and come in many sizes and shapes. Maintenance workers or building owners can use these replacements without needing special training.

Switching to modern gaskets lowers health risks and makes future maintenance safer for everyone.

Legal Options for Victims of Asbestos Gasket Exposure

People who worked with or around asbestos gaskets have options to seek compensation for an asbestos disease, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. Legal actions include lawsuits or claims from special trust funds.

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim or Lawsuit?

Legal claims are filed by those diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer. Family members may also qualify for asbestos claim compensation if a loved one passed away from these diseases.

Many people exposed to asbestos gaskets worked in shipyards, construction, plants or mechanic shops. Proof of direct work with asbestos gaskets, or proof this exposure led to illness, is usually required for a successful claim.

Victims need to gather medical records, work history and any documentation showing exposure. Legal deadlines for filing a legal claim – called statutes of limitations – vary by state, so acting quickly is important. Some law firms offer free case reviews to help people learn if they qualify.

Asbestos Trust Funds and Lawsuits

People affected by asbestos diseases can file an asbestos trust fund claim or a lawsuit. The difference lies in whether the company at fault for the asbestos exposure is still an active business.

Many asbestos manufacturers from the 20th century are now bankrupt and set up trust funds to compensate victims. These asbestos trust funds were set up so people can get paid even if the original company is no longer in business or has reorganized assets to continue business while deflecting lawsuits to a bankrupt subsidiary. Courts required companies to set up trust funds.

Claim amounts depend on the severity of the illness, work history and specific trust fund rules. Victims may get money from several trust funds if exposed to products from different companies.

Asbestos exposure lawsuits are filed against companies still in business. These can lead to settlements or verdicts, often eclipsing $1 million. Most asbestos lawsuits settle before reaching court. Settlements help pay for medical expenses, lost income, and other costs. Claimants will need a lawyer to handle paperwork and negotiation.

Final Thoughts: A Small Part With a Big Risk

Gaskets may seem simple and small, but they can have a gigantic impact on a person’s health if they were made with asbestos.

Asbestos gaskets can be dangerous if handled the wrong way. They can release tiny asbestos fibers when cut, removed, or broken. These fibers are easy to breathe in or swallow and can cause health problems, including fast-spreading types of cancer.

Key Risks:

• Inhaling asbestos fibers
• Long-term lung damage
• Possible development of cancer

Even though many companies no longer manufacture and use asbestos gaskets, some older equipment or automobiles may still have them. Anyone working with these gaskets should wear protective gear and follow safety rules.

Workers and owners should get help from professionals trained in asbestos removal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos Gaskets

Asbestos gaskets have been used in mechanical and industrial settings for heat and chemical resistance. Due to health and legal concerns, people have many questions about their risks, removal and alternatives.

Sources & Author

About the Writer, David Statman

David Statman is a Content Writer for Mesothelioma Guide. He received both his bachelor's and master's in journalism from West Virginia University, and has been in medical publishing since January 2022. He previously worked in sports journalism, primarily reporting on West Virginia sports for a number of publications.

He lives in Delaware with his wife, dog and two cats, and avidly competes as a professional wrestler in the Philadelphia area.