The purpose of this site is to provide helpful information to victims of mesothelioma, including information on hospitals, doctors, treatments and legal help.

Asbestos and Plumbing

A plumber’s day to day duties often require working in environments where they face the potential of being exposed to asbestos. 

Previous to 1980, pipes that were installed in homes were likely to contain asbestos.  Plumbers who installed, maintained, repaired or replaced any of these pipes were likely exposed to the harmful material.  If the asbestos insulation was disturbed during the course of plumbing work, it could release microscopic fibers into the air, where plumbers and anyone else nearby would inhale them.

Plumbers Frequently Exposed to Asbestos

Plumbers are often required to handle and repair items that were insulated with or contain asbestos. Items that used asbestos as insulation or to prevent condensation include:

  • Boilers
  • Tanks
  • Ducts
  • Pipes
  • Other plumbing systems

Other asbestos containing items commonly used by plumbers included:

  • Pipe block
  • Pipe coating
  • Cement insulation
  • Gaskets
  • Aircell or corrugated asbestos paper

Additionally, plumbers often had to operate in cramped and confined areas where they would have to sand or cut through asbestos containing materials.  This would result in the release of small asbestos fibers that would be inhaled by the plumber. 

Lethal Effects of Plumbing Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is only dangerous to people when these airborne fibers are inhaled.  If inhaled, the fibers can remain in the body for years, sometimes even decades, possibly leading to lethal asbestos related diseases such as:

  • Asbestosis – Scarring develops in the lung tissue and causes diminished breathing capacity
  • Mesothelioma – A form of cancer that occurs when malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs

Plumbers Still at Risk Today

Just because regulations and laws have been implemented by the U.S. government that prevents the use of many asbestos products, it doesn’t mean that today’s plumber shouldn’t be concerned about the dangers of asbestos exposure.  Plumbers are often required to perform repairs in older homes that were constructed when asbestos was commonly used.  Any plumber performing his duties in a house that was built before the late 1970’s should be sure to take the necessary precautions to avoid asbestos exposure.

For more information and resources, please contact the Mesothelioma Treatment Centers for help today.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for your visit. This website was created to provide persons affected by mesothelioma with current, up-to-date information. The content published on this website was not written by medical professionals and should not, at any point, be mistaken for medical advice. Furthermore, the information on this site is intended for educational purposes only and should never interfere with a patient/site visitor and his or her healthcare provider. In addition, viewing the content on this website, requesting additional information, or transmitting information through a contact form should never be considered the formation of an attorney-client relationship. The material published on this site is general and may not apply to your specific circumstances. Every case comes with its own set of unique circumstances; past success discussed on this site does not guarantee future performance. Information found on this website should not be used as incentive to act without seeking counsel from a professional. For more information, please read our disclaimer. The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

This website is sponsored by the law firm of Flood Law Group, LLP. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, most cases of this type are referred to other attorneys for principle responsibility.

Members of this firm are licensed in MA.

Contingent attorneys' fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client. The percentage fee will be computed before or after expenses are deducted from the recovery in accordance with state laws.