Workers in the tire and rubber industry have an increased risk of cancers (such as lung, bladder, and stomach) from occupational exposure to carcinogens. Rubber product manufacturing puts workers at risk of breathing in hazardous dust and chemical fumes. Symptoms of respiratory illness may develop over time. People affected by occupational diseases in the tire and rubber industry may qualify for legal compensation.
The tire and rubber industry uses hundreds of chemicals in manufacturing. During production, toxic fumes are released into the air during mixing and curing operations. These work environments can expose people to high concentrations of carcinogens (or cancer-causing agents).
Those involved in the production of automotive tires, appliance moldings, gloves, and other manmade rubber products may regularly inhale hazardous airborne particles at work. Moreover, they may come into physical contact with toxic byproducts. Consequently, studies show people previously employed in tire and rubber production have an increased risk of developing work-related diseases.
In 1989, tire manufacturing employed 54,600 Americans. Over 132,500 people worked in the non-tire rubber industry the same year.
Tire and rubber industry workers may be exposed to a variety of carcinogens during several manufacturing processes. Breathing in or swallowing microscopic chemicals are the most common ways workers are exposed to carcinogens.
Tire and rubber industry job activities that commonly expose workers to carcinogens include:
Visible fumes and dust from rubber processing can enter the body through the mouth or nose. Also, toxic material can come into contact with the skin, causing damage on the surface and internally. Rubber-making chemicals like N-nitrosamine interrupt the normal functions of healthy cells. Consequently, contamination could lead to cell death, organ damage, and other serious long-term health complications.
The types of chemicals used in the tire and rubber industry change continuously. Furthermore, each company uses their own proprietary chemical mixture. A small percentage of these chemicals have been evaluated for occupational safety. As a result, employees are potentially exposed to a wide range of toxins.
Common industry chemicals include:
Generally, people with the highest risk for occupational disease have worked the longest in the tire and rubber industries. People employed by factories before industry reforms in the 1980s also have a significantly higher risk for work-related illnesses.
Chest tightness and shortness of breath are the most common early signs of lung damage. Similarly, emphysema was the most reported long-term health condition causing early retirement in rubber product workers studied between 1964 and 1973.
The table below links some cancer risks with tire and rubber industry job tasks.
Type of Cancer |
Associated Rubber Industry Risk |
| Bladder | People who weigh, mix, mill, extrude, or calendar rubber may have been exposed to 2-naphthylamine. The chemical increases the risk of bladder cancer. |
| Esophagus | N-nitrosamine exposure in the reclaim department has been linked to cancers of the esophagus. |
| Larynx | Asbestos, carbon black, and talc exposure among workers who weigh and/or mix rubber components have shown an increased risk of larynx cancers. |
| Leukemia | Exposure to solvents (especially benzene) resulted in higher rates of leukemia and other blood cancers in several U.S. factories. |
| Lung | Tire-curing and rubber mixing, milling, and vulcanizing can release large amounts of contaminants into the air. Breathing in these particles could lead to cancer forming in the lungs. High concentrations of asbestos, n-nitrosamines, and talc also increase the risk of lung cancer. |
| Lymphoma | Malignant lymphomas, multiple myelomas, and other lymphopoietic cancers occur in higher rates among tire and footwear manufacturing employees. |
| Stomach | Talc exposure, working near early rubber production processes, working in curing, and maintenance work are associated with stomach cancer. |
Conversely, nervous system damage may be a sign of acute exposure to high concentrations of certain rubber-making chemicals. Breathing in benzene and 1,3-butadiene particles, for example, can cause blurry vision, headache, fainting, and seizures (in cases of extreme exposure).
For decades, occupational exposure was an everyday hazard of working in the tire and rubber industry. Today, unsafe work environments can be reported to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Workers’ compensation may be available to people diagnosed with a work-related illness (such as emphysema or work-induced asthma).
Current and retired rubber workers who have been diagnosed with an occupational cancer may seek legal compensation. To seek a financial settlement, the affected individual or their family can file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.
Also, certain Medicare and Social Security benefits are available for people who become totally disabled due to a work-related illness or injury.
Destiny Bezrutczyk is a content writer from Iowa and has earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Texas Tech University. After working as a freelance script and blog writer, she began writing content for tech startups. Maintaining a passion for words, she took on a variety of projects where her writing could help people. She enjoys spicy food and video games about robots.
Hidajat et al. (2019). Lifetime exposure to rubber dusts, fumes and N-nitrosamines and cancer mortality in a cohort of British rubber workers with 49 years follow-up. Retrieved on July 30, 2020, from https://oem.bmj.com/content/76/4/250
International Agency for Research on Cancer. (2012). Occupational Exposures in the Rubber-Manufacturing Industry. Retrieved on May 6, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304412/
National Cancer Institute. (2019). 1,3-Butadiene. Retrieved on July 30, 2020, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/butadiene
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2014). Special NIOSH Hazard Review. Retrieved on May 6, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/93-106/default.html
Occupational Health and Safety Administration. (n.d.). 1,3-Butadiene. Retrieved on July 30, 2020, from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/butadiene/healtheffects.html
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