Transportation Facilities Asbestos Exposure Sites | Mesothelioma Risk Locations
Transportation Workers at High Risk for Asbestos-Related Diseases
Transportation workers face some of the highest documented rates of occupational asbestos exposure in American industrial history. From the 1930s through the 1980s, railroad companies, automotive manufacturers, and aviation facilities extensively used asbestos-containing materials throughout their operations, creating hazardous conditions that continue to affect thousands of workers today. Transportation workers made up 17.6% of mesothelioma deaths in the transportation, warehousing, and utilities sector according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data¹. Transportation represents a critical category of asbestos exposure sites where workers routinely encountered massive quantities of asbestos-containing materials in brake systems, insulation, and mechanical components. Between 1990 and 1999, the railroad industry ranked as the fourth most frequently listed industry on death certificates of individuals who died from asbestosis³. Research published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine documented 42 mesothelioma cases among railroad workers, with locomotive engineers and conductors showing particularly elevated disease rates⁴. The unique nature of transportation work created complex exposure patterns that often involved multiple locations, employers, and types of asbestos-containing materials. Unlike workers in fixed facilities, transportation employees moved between contaminated vehicles, maintenance shops, and terminals, accumulating exposure from various sources throughout their careers. This mobility pattern has made it challenging to document complete exposure histories, yet has created opportunities for compensation through multiple responsible parties.
History of Asbestos Use in Transportation (1930s-1980s)
The massive expansion of America's transportation infrastructure during the 20th century coincided directly with the peak period of industrial asbestos use. Railroad networks grew from 45,000 miles of track in the late 1800s to over 200,000 miles by 1900, requiring extensive use of heat-resistant materials for locomotives and rail cars⁶. The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) was enacted in 1908 specifically to address the inherent dangers of railroad work, including exposure to hazardous substances that would later be identified as causing occupational diseases. The automotive industry embraced asbestos beginning in the 1940s when brake linings with chrysotile asbestos became standard equipment. By 1973, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that brake linings contained between 33% and 73% asbestos by weight, with some automotive brake components containing up to 65% asbestos⁸. The aviation industry similarly incorporated asbestos throughout military and civilian aircraft, with over 300 different asbestos-containing products documented in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance operations. Despite growing awareness of health risks beginning in the 1970s, the transportation industry continued using asbestos well into the 1980s and beyond. Many companies argued that no suitable substitutes existed for critical safety applications like brake systems. The Environmental Protection Agency began regulating asbestos in the 1970s, but legacy asbestos in older vehicles and equipment continued exposing workers through the 1990s and 2000s. In March 2024, the EPA finalized a comprehensive ban on ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, including automotive parts, though imported brake components and aftermarket parts continue to pose exposure risks⁹. The transportation industry's delayed response to asbestos dangers created a multigenerational exposure pattern. Workers who handled asbestos during the peak usage period are still being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases decades later, while current workers face ongoing risks from legacy materials and inadequately regulated imported products.
Common Asbestos Exposure Sources in Transportation
High-Risk Transportation Products and Materials
- Locomotive boiler and engine insulation containing up to 80% asbestos content
- Steam pipe insulation and lagging materials throughout trains and rail yards
- Brake shoes and locomotive brake systems with high asbestos concentrations
- Gaskets, valve packing, and seal materials in mechanical systems
- Electrical panel insulation and wiring components throughout facilities
- Caboose stove insulation and heating systems for crew comfort
- Railroad tie cement and construction materials used in track laying
- Diesel engine gaskets and components in newer locomotive systems
- Brake pads and drum linings containing 35% to 65% asbestos content
- Clutch facings and friction materials exposed to high temperatures
- Automotive gaskets and seal materials throughout engine systems
- Hood liners and engine compartment insulation for heat protection
- Transmission components and valve materials requiring heat resistance
- Aftermarket and imported automotive parts with inadequate regulation
- Brake dust generated from worn friction materials during operation
- Shop floor contamination from accumulated asbestos particles
- Aircraft brake systems containing 16% to 23% asbestos by weight
- Engine compartment insulation and heat shields protecting critical components
- Electrical cable insulation and panel boards throughout aircraft
- Cockpit and cargo hold fireproofing materials for crew and passenger safety
- Aircraft adhesives and sealants containing up to 25% asbestos content
- Welding blankets and protective equipment used during maintenance
- Instrument panel shields and heat-resistant barriers
- Military aircraft components with extensive asbestos integration
- Bus and truck brake systems requiring heavy-duty friction materials
- Commercial vehicle clutch assemblies in fleet operations
- Transportation facility building materials including insulation and tiles
- Fleet maintenance shop equipment and protective materials
Transportation facilities utilized asbestos more extensively than many other industries due to unique requirements for heat resistance, friction control, and fire protection in high-stress mechanical applications. The transportation environment's demanding conditions made asbestos seem like an ideal solution for protecting both equipment and workers from extreme temperatures and fire hazards. Industry-specific transportation exposure patterns varied by sector: • Railroad Operations: Steam locomotive workers faced the highest exposure levels due to extensive boiler insulation and high-temperature operations. Diesel locomotive introduction didn't eliminate risks, as brake systems and electrical components continued using asbestos through the 1980s. • Automotive Service: Brake mechanics experienced intense exposure during routine maintenance when grinding, sanding, or blowing out brake components released clouds of asbestos dust. The practice of using compressed air to clean brake drums could release millions of asbestos fibers directly into mechanics' breathing zones. • Aviation Maintenance: Aircraft mechanics working on military and civilian aircraft handled numerous asbestos-containing components daily. The confined spaces of aircraft maintenance created concentrated exposure conditions, while poor ventilation in hangars allowed asbestos dust to accumulate. • Commercial Transportation: Fleet maintenance facilities, public transit operations, and commercial trucking companies exposed workers through heavy-duty brake systems and building materials.
Health Risks and Legal Rights for Transportation Workers
Disease Patterns in Transportation Workers
Transportation workers experience significantly elevated rates of asbestos-related diseases due to the widespread use of asbestos throughout the industry and the high concentrations of exposure in transportation work environments. Multiple studies have documented exceptional disease patterns among transportation workers that exceed rates found in most other occupational groups. Railroad Worker Health Risks: Research consistently shows railroad workers face dramatically elevated mesothelioma and lung cancer rates. A Belgian study found railroad workers were more than three times as likely to die from mesothelioma compared to other workers¹⁰. Operating railroad workers like switchmen demonstrated three times higher lung cancer rates than non-operating railroad personnel¹¹. A comprehensive study of railroad workers found that 21% of workers age 50 and older had likely asbestos exposure, despite relatively short exposure durations¹². Automotive Mechanic Disease Rates: Auto mechanics who performed brake work showed extraordinarily high disease rates, with Australian research documenting a ten-fold increase in mesothelioma risk compared to the general population¹³. A 2018 study specifically examining brake mechanics concluded that individuals performing brake installation and repair were significantly more likely to develop asbestos-related illnesses than the general population¹⁴. The Environmental Protection Agency has documented that even brief exposure to brake dust can exceed safe exposure limits for workers¹⁵. Aviation Worker Health Impacts: Aircraft mechanics experienced elevated disease rates due to concentrated exposure in confined aircraft spaces and poorly ventilated maintenance hangars. Military aviation personnel faced particularly high risks due to extensive asbestos use mandated by government specifications. Studies of Air Force veterans show aircraft mechanics had among the highest asbestos exposure risks of all military occupational specialties¹⁶.
Legal Rights and Compensation
Transportation workers diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases have multiple specialized legal pathways for seeking compensation, reflecting the complex regulatory and legal frameworks governing different transportation sectors. The combination of industry-specific federal laws, trust fund claims, and personal injury litigation provides comprehensive options for victims to recover substantial damages. Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) for Railroad Workers: Railroad workers have exclusive access to compensation through the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), a federal law enacted in 1908 that provides broader remedies than typical workers' compensation systems. FELA allows railroad workers to pursue full damages for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical expenses without caps on award amounts¹⁷. Major FELA settlements include a $7.4 million verdict for CSX Transportation worker Raymond Williams and an $11 million award for a retired railroad worker's estate¹⁸,¹⁹. Automotive Worker Compensation: Auto mechanics and automotive workers pursue compensation through personal injury lawsuits against brake manufacturers, parts suppliers, and automotive companies. Notable settlements include an $81.5 million Washington Supreme Court verdict for Jerry Coogan's family against NAPA Auto Parts²⁰ and a $20 million Ford Motor Company verdict for mechanic William Trokey²². Asbestos Trust Fund Compensation: Transportation workers may file claims with multiple asbestos trust funds established by bankrupt brake manufacturers, parts suppliers, and automotive companies. Over 60 active trust funds contain more than $30 billion for asbestos exposure victims²⁵. Major transportation-related trust funds include the Johns Manville Trust (paid over $4 billion to victims), General Motors MLC Asbestos PI Trust ($625 million initial funding), and Abex Corporation Trust (major brake manufacturer trust)²⁶,²⁷,²⁸.
Find Transportation Asbestos Exposure Sites by State
Use the dropdown menu below to explore documented asbestos exposure sites in transportation facilities across the United States. Our comprehensive database includes detailed information about railroad yards, automotive service facilities, airports, commercial trucking operations, and vehicle manufacturing plants to help identify relevant exposure locations.
Interactive State Filter:
Select a state to view transportation facilities with documented asbestos exposure histories, including facility names, locations, operational periods, and types of transportation operations conducted at each site.
Transportation Industries with Documented Asbestos Exposure
Railroad Transportation and Freight Operations
Railroad companies represent the largest source of transportation-related asbestos exposure, with comprehensive documentation of hazardous conditions spanning over a century of operations. Major freight railroads including CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, and BNSF Railway exposed hundreds of thousands of workers to asbestos through locomotive operations, maintenance activities, and facility construction.
Automotive Service and Repair Industries
Auto mechanics, brake technicians, and automotive service workers face ongoing asbestos exposure risks despite decades of regulation. Major automotive service chains, independent repair shops, and dealership service departments have exposed workers through routine brake and clutch maintenance activities.
Commercial Aviation and Airport Operations
Aircraft mechanics and aviation maintenance workers encountered extensive asbestos exposure through military and civilian aircraft maintenance operations. Major aerospace contractors including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, McDonnell Douglas, and Northrop Grumman exposed workers during aircraft manufacturing and maintenance.
Commercial Trucking and Fleet Services
Truck mechanics, fleet maintenance workers, and commercial transportation operators faced significant exposure through heavy-duty brake systems and clutch assemblies designed for high-stress commercial operations. Major trucking companies, delivery services, and logistics operations exposed maintenance personnel through fleet service activities.
Public Transportation Systems
Transit system employees, bus maintenance workers, and subway system personnel encountered asbestos exposure through public transportation vehicle maintenance and facility operations. Major metropolitan transit authorities exposed workers through bus brake systems, subway car components, and underground facility insulation.
Marine and Port Transportation
Maritime transportation workers, port facility employees, and vessel maintenance crews faced exposure through ship brake systems, cargo handling equipment, and waterfront facility construction materials. Port authorities, shipping companies, and marine service facilities exposed workers through dock operations and vessel maintenance.
Transportation Infrastructure Construction
Highway construction workers, bridge builders, and transportation facility contractors encountered asbestos exposure during major infrastructure projects involving roads, tunnels, bridges, and transportation terminals. State departments of transportation and federal highway projects exposed workers through road building materials and infrastructure construction.
Vehicle Manufacturing and Assembly Operations
Automotive factory workers, parts manufacturers, and assembly line employees faced exposure during the production of vehicles and transportation equipment containing asbestos components. Major automakers including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, and parts suppliers exposed workers through manufacturing processes involving brake components and friction materials.
Were You Exposed to Asbestos in Transportation?
For Transportation Workers and Mechanics
If you worked in transportation facilities and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases, you may be entitled to significant compensation through multiple specialized legal pathways. Transportation workers have successfully recovered millions of dollars through FELA claims, automotive industry lawsuits, aviation litigation, and asbestos trust fund claims. Your exposure in railroad, automotive, aviation, or transportation facilities may qualify you for substantial compensation through industry-specific legal remedies. Railroad workers have exclusive access to FELA claims that provide higher awards than workers' compensation without caps on damages. Auto mechanics can pursue personal injury lawsuits against brake manufacturers and automotive companies, with recent verdicts reaching $81.5 million. Aircraft mechanics have access to aerospace industry litigation and potential veterans benefits for military service. All transportation workers may qualify for multiple asbestos trust fund claims based on the variety of manufacturers' products encountered during their careers.
For Families and Veterans
If your loved one worked in transportation and developed an asbestos-related disease, you may be eligible to file wrongful death claims seeking compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Family members who experienced secondary exposure through contaminated work clothes brought home from transportation jobs may also have valid personal injury claims. Veterans who worked in military transportation roles have access to specialized VA benefits for service-connected asbestos exposure in addition to potential civilian lawsuit remedies.
For Legal Professionals
Our comprehensive transportation database provides detailed facility information, FELA legal precedents, automotive industry litigation history, and documented exposure sources to support case development in transportation worker asbestos litigation. The unique legal frameworks governing transportation workers, including FELA's specialized railroad provisions and the complex automotive industry supply chain, require specialized expertise in transportation-specific asbestos exposure patterns and available compensation mechanisms. Transportation workers and their families deserve justice for the harm caused by decades of systematic asbestos exposure across railroad, automotive, aviation, and commercial transportation operations.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Mesothelioma deaths by industry sector." Transportation, warehousing, and utility statistics, 1999.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2023." Transportation incident statistics.
- International occupational health research. "Asbestosis mortality by industry classification." Medical journal publication, 1990-1999 data.
- American Journal of Industrial Medicine. "Mesothelioma among railroad workers: A review of exposure circumstances." Research publication.
- American Journal of Industrial Medicine. "Mesothelioma among railroad workers: A review of exposure circumstances." Research study, Vol. 61, Issue 9, 2018.
- Federal Railroad Administration. "Railroad Infrastructure Development: Historical Analysis of Track Mileage Growth, 1830-1950." U.S. Department of Transportation.
- Legislative history of the Federal Employers' Liability Act. 45 U.S.C. § 51-60, enacted April 22, 1908.
- Environmental Protection Agency. "Asbestos content analysis of automotive brake linings, 1973 survey." EPA Office of Toxic Substances.
- Environmental Protection Agency. "Final Rule on Comprehensive Ban of Chrysotile Asbestos." Federal Register, March 25, 2024.
- International occupational health research. "Railroad worker cancer risk analysis by job classification."
- International occupational health research. "Railroad worker cancer risk analysis by job classification."
- Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Medicine. "Past exposure to asbestos among active railroad workers." Massachusetts study.
- Australian brake mechanic epidemiological studies. Multiple research publications on occupational asbestos exposure.
- "Brake mechanics and mesothelioma risk." Occupational health research publication, 2018.
- Environmental Protection Agency. "Brake dust exposure limits and worker protection guidelines."
- Environmental Working Group. "Air Force veteran asbestos exposure risk analysis by occupation."
- Federal Employers' Liability Act legal framework. 45 U.S.C. § 51-60.
- Williams v. CSX Transportation. North Carolina Court of Appeals, 2006.
- Simmons Hanly Conroy. "FELA settlement and verdict database." Legal case documentation.
- Coogan v. NAPA Auto Parts. Washington Supreme Court, $81.5 million verdict, 2021.
- General Motors and Borg-Warner automotive worker settlement. Court records, 2002.
- Trokey v. Ford Motor Company. St. Louis jury verdict, $20 million, 2024.
- Heavy machinery mechanic mesothelioma settlement. Court documentation, 2010.
- 1970s auto shop mechanic family settlement. Legal case records, 2017.
- Mesothelioma Hope. "Asbestos trust fund statistics and availability." 2025 data.
- Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust. Annual reports and payment documentation, 1987-2025.
- General Motors. "Motors Liquidation Company Asbestos PI Trust establishment." 2011 bankruptcy settlement.
- Abex Corporation trust fund creation. Settlement agreement documentation, 2011.
- Mealey's Litigation Reports: Asbestos Trust Fund Statistics and Payment Data, 2024-2025.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "Disability compensation rates for mesothelioma." 2025 rate schedules.