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Steel Mills

Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point

Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point

Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point facility near Baltimore was the largest tidewater steel mill in the world and also included a major shipyard. Asbestos insulated the blast furnaces, coke ovens, rolling-mill equipment, and steam lines that ran the plant — and was even worn as protective gloves and aprons — exposing steelworkers, millwrights, and tradesmen across decades of operation.

Last verified: 2026-06-28
Medical review
Dr. Marcelo C. DaSilva Medically reviewed by , Senior Medical Reviewer Reviewed the clinical content for accuracy. Independent, compensation-disclosed medical reviewer.
Legal & editorial
Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm) Attorney Advertising — Danziger & De Llano, LLP, 440 Louisiana St., Suite 1212, Houston, TX. Contacting this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Editorial Policy & Advisory Board
Location
Sparrows Point, MD
Industry
Steel Manufacturing & Shipbuilding
Exposure Era
1940s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products
Blast-furnace and coke-oven insulation, Refractory brick and cement on furnaces, Steam-line and pipe lagging, Boiler insulation, Asbestos gaskets and valve packing, Protective gear — gloves, aprons, and blankets
Job Categories at Risk
Furnace and oven workers, Millwrights, Pipefitters, Insulators, Boilermakers, Steelworkers (rolling mill), Welders, Maintenance mechanics, Electricians, Shipyard workers

History & Asbestos Use

Opened in 1889 on the Chesapeake Bay, Sparrows Point grew to encompass both steelmaking and shipbuilding operations spanning more than 3,100 acres. During World War II the facility produced massive quantities of steel plate and built Liberty ships, with asbestos used extensively in both operations. Asbestos remained standard in all high-temperature departments until exposure regulations tightened in the late 1970s. The plant changed ownership multiple times before its final closure in 2012, followed by ongoing environmental remediation.

Exposure Details

A steel mill runs on extreme heat, and asbestos was the material that contained it. At Sparrows Point, blast furnaces, coke ovens, soaking pits, and the steam and process lines that fed the mill were wrapped in asbestos insulation, lined with refractory brick and cement, and sealed with asbestos gaskets and packing. Furnace and oven workers labored beside these surfaces, and millwrights and maintenance crews cut, stripped, and replaced asbestos insulation and refractory during relines and repairs — the rip-out work that releases the most airborne fiber. Workers also wore asbestos protective gear — gloves, aprons, and heat blankets — that shed fiber directly into their breathing zone. Because Sparrows Point combined a steel mill and a shipyard, cross-craft exposure was common as workers moved between mill and shipyard areas, and fibers carried home on work clothes exposed their families through take-home (secondary) exposure.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Furnace and oven workers
  • Millwrights
  • Pipefitters
  • Insulators
  • Boilermakers
  • Steelworkers (rolling mill)
  • Welders
  • Maintenance mechanics
  • Electricians
  • Shipyard workers

Health Effects

Sparrows Point has one of the highest documented rates of asbestos-related disease among U.S. industrial facilities. Former workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis in significant numbers, and the combination of steel-mill and shipyard exposure created exceptionally high cumulative doses for many long-term employees. Because these diseases typically appear 20 to 50 years after first exposure, workers from the peak asbestos era are still being diagnosed today, and family members exposed to take-home fiber have developed mesothelioma as well. A diagnosis is not the worker's fault: the manufacturers that supplied asbestos to the plant knew the hazards, and many have since funded trust funds to compensate those harmed.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

3 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point?

Workers who were employed at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point between 1940s–1970s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Related Exposure Sites

Steel Mills

Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Plant

Bethlehem, PA
Steel Mills

Inland Steel East Chicago Plant

East Chicago, IN

Treatment Centers in Maryland

If you were exposed to asbestos at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Maryland may be able to help.

Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, MD

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile

Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Was asbestos used at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point?

Yes. Asbestos insulated the blast furnaces, coke ovens, and steam lines, lined furnaces as refractory brick and cement, sealed equipment as gaskets and packing, and was even worn as protective gloves and aprons throughout the steel mill and shipyard for decades, into the late 1970s.

Why was asbestos exposure especially high at Sparrows Point?

Sparrows Point combined a steel mill and a shipyard, both of which used asbestos extensively. Workers were exposed to asbestos from furnace and oven insulation, pipe and steam-line lagging, refractory, protective gear, and ship-construction materials — often producing higher cumulative exposure than at single-operation facilities, with cross-craft exposure as workers moved between mill and yard.

What jobs had the highest asbestos exposure at Sparrows Point?

Furnace and oven workers, millwrights, insulators, pipefitters, and boilermakers had the heaviest exposure, especially during furnace relines and maintenance, but rolling-mill steelworkers, welders, maintenance mechanics, electricians, and shipyard workers were also exposed.

How were steelworkers exposed to asbestos in the mill?

Asbestos lined and insulated the furnaces, ovens, and steam lines steelworkers worked beside, and it was woven into the gloves, aprons, and heat blankets they wore. When millwrights and maintenance crews stripped out old insulation and refractory during relines and repairs, the rip-out released heavy airborne fiber that exposed everyone in the department.

Could family members of Sparrows Point workers be exposed to asbestos?

Yes. Fibers settled on workers' clothing, hair, and tools and were carried home, where spouses and children could inhale them while greeting workers or laundering work clothes. This take-home (secondary) exposure has caused mesothelioma in family members who never entered the plant.

How long after working at Sparrows Point can mesothelioma appear?

Mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases usually develop 20 to 50 years after first exposure, which is why former Sparrows Point workers — and even their family members — are still being diagnosed today, decades after the peak asbestos years.

Can Sparrows Point workers or their families file an asbestos claim?

Often, yes. Former steelworkers, shipyard workers, maintenance personnel, and their family members diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust funds and claims against the manufacturers whose products were used at the facility. Eligibility and deadlines depend on the diagnosis and state, so a no-cost review by a mesothelioma attorney is worthwhile.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one worked at Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.

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Sources:

  • EPA records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-06-28
  • Maryland Department of the Environment records — accessed 2026-06-28
← All Exposure Sites in Maryland ← All Exposure Sites
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