Automotive products that have involved asbestos

* Asbestos Gasket Material and Heat Seals

    Gasket material is used in the production of the sealing devices that are similar to mechanical washers used to create pressure-tight seals between two connecting parts, known as gaskets. Gaskets help keep gases and liquids from escaping through joints or seams in mechanical parts and are used to compensate for movement, pressure and temperature changes.

    Heat seals, also called thermal seals, are used along with gaskets to insulate the space between two parts from the transfer of heat. Both gaskets and heat seals were commonly manufactured with asbestos prior to the 1980s, as asbestos was known for its ability to insulate and prevent the transfer of heat.

     - Uses for Gasket Material and Heat Seals

    Gaskets are cut from gasket material that typically consists of rubber and a strong, heat-resistant material such as asbestos. Sheets of compressed asbestos were used until the 1980s in gasket material and heat seals, as the long and hollow asbestos fibers provided superior and low-cost strength and resistance to high temperatures when the fibers were compressed.

    Newer gasket material that does not contain asbestos may be made with various rubbers, carbon fibers and fillers such as paper, copper, silicone, graphite, metal, cork, felt, neoprene or fiberglass.

    Gasket material and heat seals made from asbestos were used in almost every mechanical system that involved the transport of gases, hot oils, steam, chemicals, grease or acid. Uses for gaskets and heat seals include:

• Pumps
• Compressors
• Valves
• Mixers
• Boilers
• Automobiles
• Engines
• Turbines
• Pipes
• Cylinder heads
• Heat exchangers
• Condensers

     - Potential Hazards of Gasket Material and Heat Seals

    Gasket material or heat seals that appear white or flaky may contain asbestos and pose a serious health hazard. Gasket material and heat seals manufactured prior to the 1980s likely contain asbestos fibers, which can cause lung damage, lung cancer or mesothelioma if inhaled.

    Asbestos fibers can be released from gasket material and heat seals if the material is sawed, ground, sanded or disturbed. While modern-day gaskets and seals are made using non-asbestos material, older gaskets such as those found in old car engines may contain dangerous asbestos material.

     - Who May be Affected by Asbestos Exposure

    Individuals who worked directly with gasket material or heat seals manufactured prior to the 1980s may have been exposed to asbestos fibers, which can cause serious health complications. Individuals who worked in factories that produced asbestos-containing gasket material or heat seals are particularly at risk for asbestos-related complications. Car mechanics who removed or repaired old heat seals or gaskets are also at risk.

    Sanding, cutting, ripping or disturbing asbestos-containing gaskets or heat seals can release asbestos fibers into the air, where they then can be inhaled or ingested. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers can cause serious lung damage or lead to the development of cancer. Airborne asbestos fibers may also bind to clothing and affect family members or other individuals who come into contact with people who have worked in areas containing airborne asbestos.

    Those who worked in the following industries may have been exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets or heat seals:

• Shipbuilding
• Chemical engineering
• Automobile manufacturing
• Automobile repairs
• Manufacturing of appliances or electronics
• Aerospace equipment production
• Oil refineries
• Power plants

* Asbestos Valves, Valve Stem Packing and Valve Rings

    Asbestos, a toxic mineral initially praised for its ability to withstand heat and fire, was used prevalently during the 20th century in a variety of products, including valves, valve stem packing and valve rings. Though asbestos was banned in 1977 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to serious health and safety concerns, the mineral can still be found in various products today.

     - Valves

    Valves are devices commonly used in industrial machinery and mechanical systems to regulate the flow of gases, liquids and other fluids through passageways. By opening and closing a valve, the flow of fluids can be controlled and modified in various ways for commercial, residential, transportation and military purposes.

    Valves are commonly used in the following industries:

• Chemical plants (waste processing, slurry processing, etc.)
• Mining operations
• Oil and gas (refining, processing, etc.)
• Power plant generators
• Residential plumbing
• Ships (war ships, Navy ships, submarines, etc.)
• Turbines
• Vehicle engines
• Water supply (desalination, ground water management, water treatment plants, etc.)

    Unfortunately the manufacturers of valves made prior to the 1980s often used asbestos fibers to insulate valve rings, valve stem packing, valve gaskets and other components of valves that were exposed to extreme temperatures.

     - Valve Stem Packing

    Valve stem packing is commonly used to seal a valve and prevent leaking. Valve stem packing can be found nearly everywhere valves are present and in both commercial and residential properties. Around the stems of the valves, asbestos was commonly used to aid in the insulation of the valves and inhibit the transference of heat in boilers, ducts and other equipment.

     - Valve Rings

    The use of asbestos in valve rings was implemented due to the mineral's strong resistance to heat. Commonly used in the automotive industry, asbestos valve rings were used in nearly every car to aid in the transportation of gases and fluids. This placed those building or repairing automobiles at an increased risk of asbestos exposure.

     - Hazards of Valves, Valve Stem Packing and Valve Rings

    Over time, the insulation lining of valves made with asbestos can deteriorate from extreme pressures, corrosion, excessive handling, vibrations and normal wear and tear. The deterioration of asbestos lining can cause microscopic asbestos fibers to become airborne, where they can then be inhaled by workers and other individuals nearby.

    Valve stem packing made with asbestos also presented a hazard when asbestos particles were released into the air. This frequently occurred aboard navy vessels and on shipyards, as valves and valve stem packing were commonly used aboard many ships.

    Asbestos fibers may have also entered the air when valves, valve rings or valve stem packing was disturbed. During battle or even during the maintenance and repair of ships, cars, homes or buildings, valves, valve rings and valve stem packing could release toxic asbestos fibers into the air where anyone around the products could inhale or ingest the tiny particles.

     - Asbestos Valve Stem Packing and Mesothelioma

    Once asbestos fibers are released into the air, if they are inhaled or ingested into the body, the fibers can become lodged can cause irritation and inflammation to occur. Overtime, serious health conditions may develop, including mesothelioma.

    While those who worked in the construction and shipbuilding industries were often exposed to asbestos, it was not uncommon for asbestos fibers to enter the homes of these workers on their clothing or in their hair. Once in the home, family members and loved ones may inhale or ingest the fibers, putting them at risk of developing serious health issues. 

    Additionally, machinists who installed, repaired and maintained valves on ships and other machinery during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War may be at a particularly high risk of asbestos exposure.

* Asbestos Brakes, Clutches, Hood liners & Elevator Brake Shoes

    Automotive brakes and elevator brakes control, stop or slow the movement of vehicles and elevator cabs. Automotive clutches shift power from one driving component to another while hood liners are found on the inside of the hood and provide insulation from heat and noise.

    For years, car components have often been manufactured using asbestos. Asbestos fibers are heat resistant and were used to line vehicle and elevator parts.

     - Automotive Brakes and Clutches

    Foreign and domestic cars and trucks may contain asbestos. Asbestos-containing brakes cannot be identified by sight alone. If a car owner suspects that a car or truck contains asbestos, they may investigate the vehicle by:

• Contacting auto manufacturers
• Consulting with auto part retailers
• Reading packaging information, including labels or Material Safety Data Sheets
• Indentifying whether brakes are old or worn

    Newer vehicles typically do not contain asbestos brakes. Discovering whether or not older cars or cars with brakes or clutches that have been replaced contain asbestos may be more difficult.

    As brake and clutch lining wears down over time, asbestos dust may be emitted from the car component and can gather in clutch compartments. Auto mechanics may be exposed to asbestos through the following:

• Repairing brakes or clutches
• Replacing brakes or clutches
• Wiping off dust with a brush or compressed air
• Sanding or grinding the brake surface
• Drilling brake lining
• Removing disk, clutch cover or drum
• Sweeping asbestos dust in surrounding area

    Asbestos fibers may not always be visible and may be swallowed or inhaled by those nearby.

     - Automotive Hood Liner

    Asbestos hood liners are vehicle safety features used to protect the inside of the car from overheating and are designed to shield passengers and drivers from engine fire. Exposure to asbestos may occur in several processes associated with car components such as manufacturing, installation, removal or repair.

    Airborne asbestos fibers are considered to be a health hazard and commonly affect automotive mechanics who perform vehicle maintenance.

     - Elevator Brake Shoes

    Elevator brake shoes are safety devices that prevent the elevator cab from descending faster than the elevator's maximum safety speed. If the elevator cab descends too quickly, the brake shoes will clamp down on the elevator shaft, forcing the cab to stop.

    Elevator shafts and pressure vessels may be lined with asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. If the materials are handled or disturbed, asbestos fibers may become airborne and affect those nearby who may inhale the fibers.

    Asbestos is a fireproof material and was commonly coated and sprayed in elevator shafts during the manufacturing process. Workers involved in the following maintenance procedures may have been exposed to asbestos:

• Pressure or valve maintenance
• Construction
• Elevator inspection

    Although there are certain regulations that require protective clothing, respirators and asbestos removal techniques, workers may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

Source : http://www.asbestos.com