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Asbestos materials have been used throughout power plants that were built prior to 1980. Asbestos products offered durability, heat resistance and fireproofing, which was ideal for protecting workers and machinery at high temperatures.
Anyone who worked in a power plant between 1950 and 1980 likely faced asbestos exposure, and workers today are still at risk if they deal with old equipment and materials. As a result, thousands of power plant workers are susceptible to developing asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma. In 2016 alone, there were 54,700 workers employed as power plant operators, distributors and dispatchers.
Asbestos Use at Power Plants
Power plants are comprised of heavy machinery that face high temperatures, such as boilers, furnaces, steam pipes, turbines and steam generators. There are three primary types of power plants, all prominent prior to the 1980s. The first is hydroelectric, using water for power. The second is steam-powered, using fossil fuels like oil or coal to create heat for steam power. The third is nuclear power designed to create electricity. Every type of power plant in the industry used asbestos.
Equipment used for power plant processes faced high pressure and high temperatures, which is why asbestos was frequently used for durability, heat resistance and fireproofing. Asbestos insulation lined most of the machines and pipes, with workers frequently cutting through the insulation to fit it to the equipment. Asbestos in pipe insulation and pipe coverings has been especially prominent through power plants.
Power plant workers also frequently had asbestos throughout their clothing. Protective gear like gloves, coats, pants, masks and aprons were often crafted with asbestos. This allowed employees to handle hot machinery and equipment, while also preventing the gear from catching on fire.
United States power plant companies with known occupational exposure include those listed below, by state.
Asbestos Emissions from Power Plants
In addition to the materials and gear used within power plants, studies have shown that they also released asbestos into the air, putting those living and working nearby at risk. Most studies regarding these toxic emissions weren’t released until the 1980s and 1990s, leaving many unknowingly exposed. Though there are now laws in place to help regulate toxic air emissions from power plants, the public was likely exposed for decades and may still face exposure from plants not properly abiding by regulations.
Power Plant Workers and Mesothelioma Risk
Once the dangers of asbestos became well-known, organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began to put laws and regulations in place to protect workers from the carcinogen. However, exposure was extensive prior to these regulations, and asbestos-containing materials are still prevalent today.
Machine repairs, wear and tear to equipment, use of protective clothing and interaction with power plant building materials were all ways that workers have been exposed to asbestos. As the materials become disturbed, fibers become airborne or friable.
When asbestos is released into the air, the microscopic fibers could then be easily ingested or inhaled by the power plant workers. Case studies have also shown that it’s common for them to bring home asbestos dust on their clothing, then exposing family members at home through secondary exposure. Once asbestos exposure occurs, individuals are then susceptible to developing asbestos illnesses like malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis.
Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases have a long latency period, meaning it can take decades for symptoms to emerge. Many workers are even unaware that they were exposed to asbestos in the first place, only learning of their exposure after receiving a diagnosis. As a result, cases continue to emerge today of power plant workers and their families being diagnosed with mesothelioma who were initially exposed years ago.
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