Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Toledo, Ohio

Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Toledo

Asbestos was embedded in Toledo's industrial infrastructure for decades. The following categories represent the most significant sources of occupational asbestos exposure in the greater Toledo area.

Glass Manufacturing Plants

Toledo's glass industry required extremely high-temperature furnaces and processing equipment, making asbestos insulation indispensable. Glass workers were exposed to asbestos in furnace linings, pipe insulation, protective blankets, and building materials throughout the plants. Maintenance workers who repaired and relined furnaces faced especially intense exposure as they removed deteriorating asbestos insulation in confined, high-heat environments.

• Libbey-Owens-Ford (LOF) Glass Company — One of Toledo's largest employers; asbestos used extensively in furnace insulation, pipe lagging, gaskets, and building materials across multiple Toledo facilities
• Owens-Illinois Glass Company — Glass container manufacturing with asbestos insulation in furnaces, forming equipment, and factory infrastructure

Asbestos Product Manufacturing

Toledo was not just a consumer of asbestos products — it was a producer. The presence of a major asbestos insulation manufacturer in the city meant that thousands of Toledo workers were involved in the actual production and handling of asbestos-containing materials.

• Owens Corning (Toledo HQ & Plants) — One of the largest asbestos-containing insulation manufacturers in the United States; workers at Toledo facilities produced, handled, and shipped asbestos insulation, roofing materials, and building products for decades

Auto Manufacturing

Toledo's auto industry used asbestos in brake systems, clutch components, gaskets, and facility insulation. Workers on production lines and in maintenance roles were exposed to asbestos dust during vehicle manufacturing and plant upkeep.

• Jeep/Willys-Overland (Toledo Assembly) — Decades of auto and military vehicle production with asbestos in brake pads, clutch facings, gaskets, and facility insulation throughout the plant

Petroleum Refining & Energy

Oil refineries and power plants in the Toledo area used asbestos insulation on boilers, turbines, steam pipes, and processing equipment. Maintenance workers, operators, and tradespeople at these facilities faced regular asbestos exposure.

• Sun Oil Company (Sunoco) Refinery — Toledo refinery with asbestos in pipe insulation, boiler lagging, heat exchangers, and processing equipment throughout the facility
• Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station — Nuclear facility near Toledo with extensive asbestos use in insulation, fireproofing, and construction materials during initial construction and ongoing maintenance

This is not an exhaustive list. Dozens of additional industrial facilities across the greater Toledo area used asbestos-containing materials. If you worked at any glass plant, manufacturing facility, refinery, or construction site in Toledo before the mid-1980s, asbestos exposure is likely. Our attorneys maintain detailed databases of Toledo-area exposure sites and can investigate your specific work history as part of a free case evaluation.

Types of Mesothelioma Diagnosed in Toledo

Mesothelioma develops when inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers become embedded in the lining of internal organs, causing cellular damage that leads to malignant tumor growth over decades. Toledo's industrial exposure profile — encompassing glass manufacturing, asbestos product production, auto manufacturing, and petroleum refining — produces patterns of mesothelioma diagnosis that reflect the types and duration of asbestos contact workers experienced.

Pleural Mesothelioma (Lungs)

Pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 75 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses and is the most common form seen in Toledo patients. This type develops in the pleura — the thin membrane surrounding the lungs — when inhaled asbestos fibers migrate to the pleural lining and cause chronic inflammation and eventual malignancy. Toledo glass workers, Owens Corning employees, and refinery maintenance crews who inhaled asbestos dust over months or years of occupational exposure are at the highest risk. Symptoms typically include persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusion).

Early detection significantly affects treatment options and prognosis. If you worked in a Toledo-area glass plant, insulation factory, refinery, or industrial facility and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, inform your physician about your occupational asbestos exposure history. Visit our diagnosis and treatment page for more information about the diagnostic process.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Abdomen)

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum — the lining of the abdominal cavity — and accounts for approximately 15 to 20 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses. This form can result from ingestion of asbestos fibers or migration through the lymphatic system. Toledo workers in dusty environments like insulation manufacturing and glass furnace maintenance may have swallowed asbestos fibers cleared from their airways. Symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, unexplained weight loss, bowel changes, and fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma has advanced significantly, with cytoreductive surgery combined with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) showing improved survival rates. Regardless of the type diagnosed, the same legal options — personal injury lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims, and VA benefits for veterans — are available to Toledo patients and their families.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers Near Toledo, Ohio

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma in the Toledo area have access to some of the region’s leading cancer treatment facilities. These centers offer specialized thoracic oncology programs, access to clinical trials, and multidisciplinary care teams experienced in treating asbestos-related cancers. Early evaluation at a specialized center can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Family Members Exposed to Asbestos in Toledo

Asbestos exposure in Toledo did not stop at the factory gate. For decades, glass workers, Owens Corning employees, refinery crews, and auto plant workers carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, hair, and personal items — unknowingly exposing their families to the same deadly material they encountered at work. This pattern, known as secondary or take-home exposure, has been documented extensively in Toledo's industrial community and has led to mesothelioma diagnoses in people who never set foot in a glass plant or factory.

How Secondary Exposure Occurred

Toledo industrial workers typically arrived home covered in dust that included asbestos fibers. Before the dangers were widely understood, standard practice was for spouses to shake out, brush off, and launder contaminated work clothes at home. This process released asbestos fibers into the household air. Children who greeted parents, sat in their laps, or played near contaminated clothing were also exposed. Owens Corning workers who manufactured insulation products were particularly likely to carry heavy concentrations of asbestos fiber home, as their work involved direct contact with raw and processed asbestos materials.

Legal Rights of Toledo Families

Ohio courts recognize secondary asbestos exposure as a valid basis for mesothelioma claims. Family members who developed mesothelioma from take-home asbestos exposure have the same legal right to pursue compensation as the workers themselves. These claims can be filed against the companies that manufactured the asbestos products, the employers who failed to prevent fibers from leaving the workplace, and the asbestos trust funds established through bankruptcy proceedings.

If a spouse, child, or other family member of a Toledo industrial worker has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and never worked directly with asbestos, secondary exposure should be investigated. Our attorneys have handled numerous secondary exposure cases and understand the specific evidence required to establish the connection between a worker's occupational exposure and a family member's diagnosis.

Support Groups & Resources for Toledo Families

A mesothelioma diagnosis affects the entire family. These organizations provide support, education, counseling, and practical assistance for patients and caregivers.

National Organizations

Ohio Resources