Comments
The risk for asbestosis is low because the asbestos content of the dust is low. It appears that the chrysotile fibers decompose in the heat of braking. Brake workers had relatively low fiber counts per gram of lung tissue compared to other asbestos-exposed workers. [Rom, 3rd ed, p. 344] Between the 1970s and late 1980s, TWA airborne asbestos levels decreased 10-fold in some garages secondary to brake-dust control measures. [Paustenbach DJ, Richter RO, Finley BL, Sheehan PJ. An Evaluation of the Historical Exposures of Mechanics to Asbestos in Brake Dust. Appl Occup Environ Hyg 2003;18:786-804] By 2000, most US cars contained non-asbestos friction materials. [PMID: 18188736] From Occupations and Industries in France at High Risk for Pleural Mesothelioma: A Population-Based Case-Control Study (1998-2002), "In contrast, as reported elsewhere [Teschke et al., 1997; Agudo et al., 2000], occupational activities involving asbestos friction products (repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) were not associated with a significantly high risk of mesothelioma." [PMID 20886529]