Asbestos Textiles: Properties, Uses and Safety Considerations

For decades, manufacturers blended asbestos fibers into textiles to make products that could withstand heat and fire. Asbestos textiles were common in workplaces and even some household items.

Workers who made or used asbestos fabrics often breathed in tiny fibers without knowing the risks. After some time, scientists linked asbestos exposure to serious diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Learning about asbestos textiles can help people stay safe and recognize potential hazards.

Why Asbestos Was Used in Fabric and Clothing

Asbestos was used in fabric and clothing during the 20th century because of its unique properties. It can resist impact from heat, fire and even some chemicals. Asbestos in products like fabric was common.

People working in specific industries or climates need clothing to protect them from burns and high temperatures. Firefighters, factory workers and those working with hot metals often wore asbestos textiles decades ago.

Key benefits of asbestos in textiles included:

Asbestos fibers could be woven into cloth just like cotton or wool. This makes it useful for making aprons, gloves, coats and blankets.

Factory owners and managers liked asbestos fabrics because they do not burn easily and could be washed and reused many times. The material also helps reduce the risk of accidents in jobs with open flames or hot surfaces.

As the health risks of exposure to asbestos came to light for workers and others involved in making textiles or wearing textile fabric, the use of asbestos in this industry decreased and eventually ended entirely.

Types of Asbestos-Containing Textiles

Textiles play key roles in safety clothing, industrial uses and military gear. The types of textiles containing asbestos include fire-resistant clothing, blankets, curtains, tapes, ropes, and military gear.

Fire-Resistant Protective Clothing

Fire-resistant clothing made from asbestos was common among firefighters, factory workers and welders during the 20th century. The fabric can protect against high heat and flames, which helps prevent burns and other injuries.

Common items included jackets, pants, coats and gloves. These garments were thick and layered, sometimes reinforced with cotton or leather for extra durability. Some fire blankets were woven with asbestos fibers.

Asbestos in textiles is now replaced by safer materials. However, old uniforms may still contain asbestos. The asbestos dust from old clothing poses health risks.

Heat-Resistant Blankets and Curtains

Asbestos textiles were used for heat shields, blankets and curtains, especially in places with extreme temperatures. These products can protect both people and equipment from sparks, molten metal or hot surfaces.

Blankets and curtains may line industrial ovens, kilns and foundries. They could also be found draped over machinery during repairs to prevent fires. Some welding shops used asbestos curtains to block sparks and prevent fires in nearby areas.

Today, safer substitutes are used, but asbestos products may still be found in old factories or storage. Handling these items requires caution to avoid releasing fibers.

Industrial Tapes and Ropes

Industrial tapes and ropes woven with asbestos textiles provide insulation and fire protection. They wrap around hot pipes, valves and engines to prevent heat loss and fire hazards.

Asbestos tapes seal joints and seams on boilers and ductwork. Ropes are used as gaskets in doors, chimneys and furnaces. These items were valued during the 20th century for staying strong and flexible under high heat without burning.

A simple table shows some common uses:

Military and Foundry Gear

During the previous century, asbestos textiles played an important role in military and foundry settings. In foundries, workers wore asbestos aprons, gloves and face shields. These could protect them from molten metal splashes and intense heat.

Military gear was made with fireproof blankets, tent linings and protective clothing. Equipment on ships and tanks often featured asbestos insulation to reduce fire risks during combat.

Some gear combined asbestos with metals or other materials for extra strength. Handling or repairing old gear and equipment without protection can expose people to health risks even today.

Who Was Most at Risk of Exposure From Asbestos Textiles?

People who work with or near asbestos textiles face the highest risk of breathing in harmful asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure for textile workers was due to working in factories. These workers also can carry fibers on their clothes into their vehicles, homes or offices, where they expose others.

Factory Workers and Textile Mill Employees

Textile factory and mill workers were directly involved in making products with asbestos during the 20th century. They handled raw asbestos fibers every day. These workers often spun, wove, or cut asbestos cloth, making it easy to release fibers into the air.

Most mills had poor ventilation and workers did not always wear protective gear. Asbestos dust covered tools, clothes, and even lunchrooms. Since the fibers are so small, they could float in the air for hours.

Common jobs included machine operators, packers and maintenance staff. All of these workers breathed in asbestos fibers by simply doing their jobs. This puts them at a much greater risk for lung problems later in life.

Firefighters and Welders

Welders during the 20th century wore asbestos suits and gloves to guard against sparks and burns when working with equipment. Welders sanding or cutting asbestos materials disturbed the mineral and released fibers into the air where they worked.

Firefighters used protective clothing made with asbestos textiles to safeguard from flames when responding to fires. When firefighting gear got damaged, it released fibers into the air. Firefighters at building fires often faced even more risk of asbestos exposure, as old buildings may contain asbestos in insulation or around electrical wiring.

Firefighters can encounter asbestos today when responding to fires in old buildings. Any building with asbestos lurking can be a hazard for emergency response personnel.

Risks:

• Breathing in asbestos from gear
• Touching worn or damaged suits
• Exposure during fires in older buildings

Family Members of Workers

Even without working directly with asbestos, family members of people in certain jobs could be at risk of exposure. This home exposure is called “secondary asbestos exposure” and it often affects people who never set foot in a factory or mill.

During the 20th century, workers in factories and textile mills often came home with asbestos dust on their clothes, shoes and hair. Family members could handle their clothes and touch the fibers, hug their loved one and shake dust into the air, or more, all leading to the breathing in of the sharp fibers.

Children and spouses – just like the workers – had no idea the dust was dangerous. Vacuuming or shaking out work clothes spread the fibers even more throughout the home.

Researchers found that:

• Wives who washed uniforms had higher rates of illness.
• Children were at risk from hugging parents or playing on dusty floors.
• The risk was highest before workplace safety rules were put in place.

How Exposure Happened

People came into contact with asbestos fibers in several ways when working with or around asbestos textiles. The main sources included wearing the clothing, making the fabrics, and handling storage or cleaning tasks.

Wearing or Handling the Garments

When a person wears asbestos clothing, like aprons or gloves, tiny fibers could easily come loose. This occurs most likely when the fabric is old, worn down or damaged.

Those nearby can also breathe in fibers, even if they are not the ones wearing the clothing. The small, almost invisible fibers can settle on skin, hair, or nearby surfaces.

Key risks:

• Tearing or cutting the fabric
• Rubbing against other surfaces
• Removing or putting on the garments, which often caused fibers to shake loose

Manufacturing and Tailoring of Asbestos Fabrics

People involved in sewing, cutting, or weaving asbestos textiles faced high exposure when asbestos was popular in the industry. When fibers were cut, brushed, or moved during production, large amounts of asbestos was raised into the air.

Steps most likely to cause fiber release:

• Cutting asbestos cloth with scissors or machines
• Punching, stitching, or hemming fabric
• Cleaning up dust on floors and workstations

Workers often did not wear special protective equipment. Open doors and windows could spread fibers around the work area.

Even small tasks, like measuring or folding textiles, could unsettle the mineral and release fibers.

Storage and Maintenance of Asbestos Textiles

Keeping asbestos textiles in storage or cleaning them at work or home was another method of exposure in the past. Stored fabrics might break down, releasing loose fibers into the air, especially if packaging was damaged.

Common exposure activities:

• Shaking out clothing or blankets to remove dust before use
• Washing asbestos garments by hand or machine
• Handling boxes or bins where asbestos fabrics were kept

Dust collected on shelves, boxes, or storage rooms. When anyone moved the items, it could stir up asbestos fibers that had been released and then settled on furniture, floors, walls or boxes. People who cleaned storage spaces, even without handling the textiles, could breathe in the gathered dust.

Asbestos is no longer used in textiles, but any old items stored away or still used can expose people to asbestos.

Health Risks of Asbestos Textile Exposure

Asbestos fibers from textile work can enter the lungs, the lining of the lungs or the lining of the abdominal cavity. If the body does not expel the fibers, then the sharp ends can irritate tissue, change cells, and cause serious health problems.

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma, which is a rare cancer. This cancer affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.

Asbestos is the only cause of mesothelioma, which is aggressive and can quickly spread to several nearby organs. Individuals who worked in asbestos textile plants have a higher chance than most people of developing this disease.

Lung cancer is also linked to breathing in asbestos fibers. Smokers exposed to asbestos have an even greater risk. There is often a long gap, sometimes 20 years or more, between exposure and cancer diagnosis.

Key Symptoms:

Early symptoms can be mild, making detection and treatment difficult.

Asbestosis and Pleural Diseases

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lungs caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. This scarring makes it hard to breathe and reduces the amount of oxygen the body gets.

Main signs include:

• Shortness of breath
• Dry, crackling sounds in the lungs when breathing
• Fatigue

Pleural diseases include changes in the lining of the lungs (the pleura), such as pleural plaques and thickening. These changes can cause chest pain and trouble breathing, but not everyone with pleural disease has severe symptoms.

How to Identify and Remove Asbestos Garments

Asbestos textiles can be found today, especially where old industrial clothing or equipment has not been updated. Removing these materials safely requires knowing what signs to look for and following strict handling rules.

Still Found in Older Industrial Settings and Storage Units

Asbestos garments were often used for heat resistance and fire protection. Older factories, warehouses and storage units may have items like fire blankets, gloves, jackets and aprons made with asbestos. These items usually look like thick, gray or off-white cloth with a rough texture.

Common places to find asbestos textiles include:

If a garment label mentions “asbestos” or “fireproof” and looks worn or frayed, do not touch it. Damaged asbestos textiles release tiny fibers, which can become airborne and inhaled.

Safe Disposal Requires Professional Handling

Trying to remove asbestos garments without training or proper gear is dangerous. Only licensed professionals should handle and dispose of these materials. They will use sealed bags, protective suits and special masks.

Sometimes asbestos can be sealed or repaired to prevent fibers breaking apart any further. Since asbestos textiles on clothes cannot be repaired or sealed, the only way to address dangerous asbestos is by disposing of the clothing.

The removal process usually includes:

It is important not to wash, vacuum, or burn asbestos textiles. This can release fibers, increasing the risk of exposure. Contact a certified asbestos removal company right away if you suspect asbestos textiles among your clothes, in your storage space, or anywhere else on your property.

Legal Rights for Exposure Victims

Asbestos textile exposure can cause serious health issues, including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Victims have specific legal rights to seek help and compensation if they develop an asbestos exposure illness.

Eligible Groups for Filing Claims

People who worked in factories making or handling asbestos textiles are often eligible to file claims for compensation for mesothelioma or another disease. This includes plant workers, machine operators and maintenance staff. Family members may also be eligible if they suffered from secondary asbestos exposure (for example, by washing a worker’s contaminated clothing), or if their loved one died of an asbestos exposure disease.

Most claims come from people who are older – age 60 and above – as this is when most people are diagnosed with asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma. Contractors and visitors to facilities with asbestos textiles may qualify if they have mesothelioma. Each state has its own requirements for filing claims, including time limits called statutes of limitations.

Types of Compensation Available

People harmed by asbestos textiles can seek payment for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. There are usually two main types of compensation:

• Lawsuit settlements and verdicts – Filing a lawsuit may result in a settlement or a court judgment (verdict) that awards money to the victim.
• Asbestos trust funds – Many companies that used asbestos are now bankrupt. They are required to set up trust funds to pay victims. These funds sometimes pay out faster than court cases.

A person may qualify for both types. They can file a lawsuit against one company and an asbestos trust fund claim with a different company.

Most legal claims involving exposure to asbestos include several defendants: all companies involved in manufacturing and selling asbestos, and the company that asked workers and contractors to add asbestos to materials such as textiles.

Victims may also get money to help with travel to medical appointments or other related costs. The amount depends on the strength of the evidence and the severity of illness.

Importance of Legal Guidance

Navigating asbestos claims can be complicated. Each case is different, and deadlines for filing can vary by state.

A lawyer with experience in asbestos cases can help victims understand their options. Attorneys often work on a contingency fee basis, meaning they only get paid if they win the case or get a settlement. This eliminates upfront costs for victims seeking legal representation.

Asbestos legal experts understand all documents needed to prove a case and will collect important records and show the link between exposure and illness.

Without help, it can be hard to gather proof or handle paperwork correctly. Qualified legal support can make sure victims do not miss key steps that could harm their claim.

Final Thoughts: Protective Clothing Shouldn’t Put Workers at Risk

Asbestos textiles were once used for protective clothing. Firefighters and others relied on this clothing to prevent burns or other injuries related to heat. However, the asbestos textiles also put wearers and others at risk.

Many workers did not know this danger when asbestos was most popular. They trusted their uniforms to guard them from harm and the companies that made the clothing to use the safest material. Instead, the clothing exposed them to harmful dust for years.

Workers had little control over what they wore on the job. Most did not have safer options available.

Proper protection should always put health first. Unfortunately, during the 20th century, asbestos textiles made wearing certain clothing dangerous. Today, many workers of textile plants and people who wore asbestos textile clothing have serious health conditions – including deadly types of cancer – because of asbestos textiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Asbestos textiles have a long history and were valued for specific qualities like heat resistance. Today, there are important safety guidelines for handling or encountering materials made with asbestos fibers.

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.