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Blacksmiths and Pleural Mesothelioma

Because blacksmiths work with heated materials they have historically had to use asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been used in thousands of products for its innate resistance to heat and fire. The toxic mineral has been mainly used for insulation purposes, to insulate materials from heat and fire.

Blacksmiths and Asbestos Exposure

As blacksmiths heat and shape iron and metal into useful and ornamental items they work with high heat temperatures and asbestos materials have helped to protect blacksmiths from exposure to dangerous levels of heat and fire. Today, most metal work is done by machine, thus today’s blacksmiths are more often an artisan or artist that works with metal and fire.

Particularly, those who worked as blacksmiths before the 1980s were at greater risk of being exposed to asbestos in a number of different ways. One of the primary occupational hazards to blacksmiths was found in the protective clothing and equipment. Asbestos was also often found (and may still be found in older forges and buildings) in tiles on walls and floors, protective flooring, asbestos insulation around the furnaces and forge, and asbestos plates beneath and behind the forge.

Additionally, asbestos insulation typically protected the wall behind the forge from the heat and fires. The floor of the workshop, particularly around the forge and the work area, was protected by asbestos tiles or asbestos sheets, also to prevent fires and burns to the floor. Even the forge was insulated with asbestos to hold heat in and to keep the room cooler.

As for protective clothing, blacksmiths may have worn asbestos aprons, asbestos face masks or asbestos gloves to protect their body. The work done by a blacksmith naturally disturbed the asbestos fibers in the materials they work with, which releases asbestos fibers into the work area. These fibers can be inhaled by anyone in the area, most especially the worker wearing the protective clothing and using the tools.

Asbestos has been proven to cause pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. A number of blacksmiths have developed pleural mesothelioma as a result of working with asbestos-contaminated materials. Those who have worked as a blacksmith may have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. Such persons at risk should make their doctor aware of their potential asbestos exposure to have regular checkups for signs of asbestos disease.

For more information on asbestos and the blacksmith occupation, or for additional information on treating pleural mesothelioma, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a complimentary information packet.