Asbestos in textiles has been the basis of severe and elevated asbestos exposure for many people, causing asbestosis and cancers such as mesothelioma. Hundreds of asbestos-containing textiles and the products made from these textiles (such as asbestos textile garments and textile cloths) were commonly used in many industries, especially during the period from the World War II years until 1989, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned many uses of asbestos, in textiles and other products.

Textiles Are Flexible, Versatile

Asbestos textile products were valued for their flexibility, versatility, and durability. Asbestos can be woven into or sprayed onto fabric that is flame-retardant and heat-resistant. Asbestos textile and cloth products were used in a multitude of applications, such as:

• welding blankets and curtains
• packing components
• textile garments
• roofing materials
• textile cloths
• heat- and fire-resistant fabrics

Significant Asbestos Exposure During Manufacture

Properties of the asbestos textiles such as thickness, size, and flexibility can be manipulated to meet many needs. The workers who made the asbestos textiles in the pre-1980s decades were at significant risk of contracting an asbestos-caused disease such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, because the manufacture of asbestos products usually results in the tiny fibers of asbestos being released into the air, where workers may inhale or swallow them, initiating a disease process that may take decades to manifest.

Asbestos Textile Garments for Firefighters

For many years, asbestos was used in textile garments for firefighters, because of the near-fireproof nature of garments woven with asbestos. Firefighters may well have been breathing in asbestos fibers as they were going about their life-saving work.

Although the EPA banned all new uses of asbestos in 1989, many of the uses of asbestos that had been established prior to 1989 are still allowed. This means that many asbestos textiles are still used in industry or are present in homes, schools, offices, theaters, libraries, etc. For example, many asbestos textile curtains in theaters and asbestos cloth around boilers are still in place.

Learn More about Asbestos in Textiles

You may have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos in textiles on your job or at home. Your spouse or family member may be the victim of asbestos exposure. Whatever your circumstances, let us help you explore the resources available to you.