Longshoremen and Mesothelioma

Why Longshoremen Were Exposed to Asbestos

For much of the 1900s, asbestos was used extensively in maritime settings because it resisted heat and fire, both major risks on ships. Even if longshoremen were not installing or removing insulation, occupational asbestos exposure could occur through indirect contact with asbestos dust already present on vessels, in cargo holds, or in port facilities. Longshoremen also worked around other trades that disturbed asbestos materials, including ship repair crews, maintenance crews, and contractors.

Asbestos was a central part of building and maintaining ships until the 1980s. This exposed longshoremen who loaded and unloaded materials onto these ships. Even bags they carried could have contained asbestos and broke during the loading or unloading process. Asbestos is no longer used on new projects or builds, or loaded onto ships for shipping, but old asbestos can linger as part of ship infrastructure and old port equipment.

For broader maritime context, see the shipbuilders and shipyard resource: shipbuilders and shipyard workers asbestos exposure.

Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred for Longshoremen

Asbestos exposure for longshoremen typically came from workers being around asbestos-containing ship components and dusty cargo or equipment, especially in enclosed areas.

Onboard Ships During Loading and Unloading

Many old ships contained asbestos in areas such as:

• Boiler rooms and engine rooms
• Pipe insulation on steam and hot water lines
• Gaskets and packing in valves and pumps
• Fireproofing and insulation behind bulkheads and panels
• Heat shielding around exhaust systems and equipment

Longshoremen could be exposed when working near these areas, moving through passageways with deteriorating insulation, or entering holds where dust accumulated.

Longshoremen could also be exposed when carrying bags to and from ships. Some of these bags contained raw asbestos and could have been punctured or ripped apart, which allowed asbestos to spill and get scattered into the air.

Cargo Holds and Enclosed Ship Spaces

Cargo holds can trap dust, especially when ventilation is limited. Exposure risk increases when longshoremen:

• Work in holds that have deteriorating insulation nearby
• Handle cargo that creates heavy dust
• Sweep or clean up debris in enclosed spaces
• Work around damaged panels, lagging, or insulation debris

Even if asbestos was not the cargo, fibers from onboard materials could become airborne when surfaces were bumped, damaged, or disturbed.

Port Equipment and Maintenance Zones

Old port facilities and equipment sometimes used asbestos-containing materials, particularly where heat and friction were involved. Depending on the time period and facility, longshoremen may have been exposed around:

• Industrial piping and utility corridors in port buildings
• Older mechanical rooms and maintenance shops near terminals
• Fireproofed structural areas in older port warehouses

Handling Asbestos-Containing Cargo or Industrial Products

Some longshoremen worked in terminals that handled industrial materials that could contain asbestos or were contaminated with asbestos dust. Risk increased if packaging broke, products spilled, or cleanup was performed with dry methods.

Many longshoremen were exposed to asbestos from loading or unloading bags of raw asbestos, other bags containing a product manufactured with asbestos, or bags with material made with asbestos for fire resistance. If these bags broke or were otherwise disturbed, asbestos could be spread into the workers’ breathing area.

Longshore Tasks and Conditions Increasing Exposure Risk

Longshoremen were more likely to be exposed to asbestos in environments where dust was present and containment was limited. Higher-risk situations include:

• Working on older ships with deteriorating insulation
• Being assigned to holds or areas near engine rooms, boiler areas, or insulated piping
• Sweeping, shoveling, or cleaning dusty debris in enclosed ship spaces
• Handling damaged cargo packaging that releases dust
• Loading or unloading broken bags of raw asbestos or any bags containing asbestos as part of the bag material
• Working during ship repair or turnaround activity while other crews disturbed insulation
• Repeated exposure over many years at older terminals and on older vessels

If you remember crumbling insulation, powdery debris on surfaces, frequent shipboard cleanup, or maintenance activity happening nearby, those details matter.

Industries and Ship Types With Higher Risk

Risk varies based on ship age, ship type, and the port’s role. Exposure was often higher on older vessels and in ports that handled:

• Military supply and naval-related operations
• Heavy industrial cargo
• Ship repair and refit activity near terminals
• Steam-era and early diesel-era ships with extensive insulation systems

Longshoremen working in shipyard-adjacent terminals may have experienced additional exposure if insulation work and ship repair were happening close to loading operations.

Mesothelioma Risk and Latency for Longshoremen

Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the lining around the lungs (pleural) or abdominal cavity (peritoneal). A key challenge is latency, which is how long a disease takes to form. Asbestos-related diseases often take many years to develop after exposure. Many longshoremen are diagnosed long after their most intense shipboard exposure years.

Common Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms for mesothelioma vary by type and can resemble other illnesses.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

If you have worked as a longshoreman and developed any of these symptoms, tell your doctor about your work history, including shipboard work, hold assignments, and exposure to dusty conditions.

Does Asbestos Exposure Still Happen in Port Work Today?

Risk is generally lower today compared to the 20th century due to changes in materials and safety controls, but asbestos exposure can still occur in old ships and old port infrastructure where legacy asbestos remains. Legacy asbestos refers to asbestos installed decades ago that has not been removed. Risk increases during ship repair periods, renovations of old terminals, and situations where damaged materials release dust.

Legal Options for Longshoremen Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

Longshoremen may qualify for compensation from filing legal claims such as lawsuits or asbestos trust funds, but the path can be complex because exposure often involves multiple locations, vessels, and product sources. Many claims focus on manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products used on ships and in maritime facilities, rather than only direct employers.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Mesothelioma lawsuits may be filed against companies that made or supplied asbestos-containing ship materials such as insulation, gaskets, packing, fireproofing, and other products present on vessels and in maritime facilities. Evidence often includes:

• Port and terminal work history
• Ships and shipping lines worked around, when known
• Typical assignments and whether work occurred inside holds or near machinery spaces
• Coworker statements confirming conditions
• Medical records confirming diagnosis

Asbestos Trust Fund Claims

Some asbestos companies established bankruptcy trust funds. These are bank accounts created when a company goes bankrupt to settle claims with future victims. Trust claims can be important in maritime cases because many ship material manufacturers later filed for bankruptcy.

Compensation Overview

Compensation for mesothelioma may help cover:

What Longshoremen Should Document

You do not need perfect records to begin. Helpful details include:

• Ports, terminals, and employers where you worked
• Union or local information, if applicable
• Years worked and typical job assignments
• Whether you worked inside cargo holds, below decks, or in enclosed spaces
• Any ship repair or refit periods you worked around
• Whether you remember older ships with deteriorating insulation or dusty passageways
• Coworker names who can confirm conditions
• Medical documentation confirming diagnosis, including pathology reports

To connect your history to locations, see asbestos exposure sites.

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.