How many mechanics have actually died of mesothelioma? I cannot find any statistics out there, but I think I have been exposed to an asbestos clutch fairly recently for a very brief period of time. Plus, my father worked as a part's salesmen and probably handled some of the parts…. AND ALSO, I remember as a kid I used to wipe the black brake dust off of my father's truck wheels onto my hand. Really stupid, I know, but I was just a kid. everything that I have read about asbestos indicates that I will be fine, but there are some cases where I have heard of people getting mesothelioma from only brief exposures, which is troublesome to say the least. The thing I don't get at all is why you need a hazmat suit to remove the stuff from homes but this stuff is still in automobile friction products? It's ridiculous if you think about it. If you walk past a brake shop or a garage you could be exposing yourself to asbestos fibers. even around busy highways. or if you stand in line in a grocery store behind a mechanic with dirty overalls…. the same thing…. airborne asbestos. But, they will lock down a school if a piece of asbestos pipe breaks. I guess it's something that no one talks about, but if asbestos exposure from brake pads and clutches were as serious as some people make them out to be then wouldn't mechanics be dropping like flies? I have read of some mechanics who have gotten mesothelioma, but I have never read any statistical break down of mesothelioma by occupation. So, really, how serious is this for people who work on cars/change brake pads and clutches?
It's been a while since brake pads and clutches used asbestos. The ones who were exposed probably already died. 
I hope that the small exposure of a shade trade mechanic will not do me in.
There is potentially still a serious risk for mechanics. More than 70 percent of all aftermarket brake pads are manufactured outside of North America mainly in the far East. Asbestos is still often used to make brake pads in these countries where the manufacturing environment is not bound by health and safety laws. There are no standards for aftermarket brake pad components so even though everybody assumes asbestos is gone from these products it is not entirely true and they can be legally imported into North American markets. The only way to know a brake pad is asbestos free is to actually test it in a lab. Mechanics should be still taking respiratory precautions when working with friction materials. you just can't tell.
Asbestos Exposure For Mechanics (Auto Clutches, Brake Pads, etc.)?
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