Washington Asbestos-Related Deaths from 1999-2017
Asbestos Exposure in Washington
Washington’s economy is well known for shipbuilding, oil refining, power production, manufacturing, and paper production. Use of asbestos was common within these types of industries exposing workers to hazardous asbestos fibers and increasing the risk of developing a deadly asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma or asbestosis.
Asbestos Exposure in Manufacturing
The manufacturing processes in paper mills, power plants and other industries require insulation and fireproofing materials. Asbestos was used as an insulator in these industries to protect from high heats and fires, but it also created another deadly hazard. Paper mills in Washington used asbestos-containing adhesives and cloths. Power plants used asbestos to insulate pipes, generators and boilers. Workers in these facilities who handled asbestos-containing materials were at high risk for asbestos exposure.
Vermiculite and Asbestos
Asbestos tainted vermiculite from Libby, Montana was sent to several locations throughout Washington. The vermiculite was used for insulation and was sold throughout the country. Washington has several naturally occurring asbestos deposits and asbestos mines. Miners are at high risk for developing asbestos-related diseases because of regular exposure to asbestos in the mines. Workers who processed asbestos from these mines were also heavily exposed and should monitor their health for deadly diseases, such as mesothelioma.
Partial list of work sites in Washington with known asbestos exposure
- ALCOA Aluminum Plant
- Asarco Smelter
- Atlantic Richfield (ARCO) Refinery
- Bethlehem Steel Mill
- Boeing Aircraft Plant
- Boise Cascade Lumber Mill
- Boise Cascade Paper Mill
- Centralia Power Plant
- Clark College
- Columbia River Paper Mill
- Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill
- Duwamish Shipyard
- Eastern Washington State University
- Eckstein School
- Everett General Hospital
- Everett Pulp & Paper/Simpson Lee Paper Mill
- Fairchild Air Force Base
- Fort Lewis Army Base
- Georgia Pacific Paper Mill
- Georgia Pacific Plywood Mill
- Georgia‐Pacific Chemical Plant
- Hooker Chemical Plant
- Hydraulic Supply Fabrication Shop
- Isaacson Iron Works
- James River Paper Mill
- Kaiser Aluminum Plant
- Kaiser Shipyard
- Kimberly‐Clark Paper Mill fka Scott Paper Mill
- Lake Union Shipyard
- Lockheed Shipyard (Harbor Island)
- Longview Fiber Co.
- Longview Fibers Paper Mill
- Mobil Oil Refinery
- Northwestern Glass Company
- Olympia Brewery
- Olympia Hotel
- Pacific Car Plant & Foundry
- Peninsula Plywood Mill
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- Puget Sound Plaza
- Reynolds Metals aka ALCOA Aluminum Plant
- Rheinlander Paper Factory
- San Point Naval Station
- Sand Point Naval Air Station
- Shell Oil Refinery
- Simpson Kraft Paper Mill fka St. Regis fka Champion Paper Mill
- Sinclair‐Atlantic Richfield Co. (ARCO)‐ Refinery
- Spokane County Steam Plant
- Texaco Refinery
- Todd Pacific Shipyards, formerly Seattle-Tacoma (SEA-TAC)
- Todd Shipyard
- U.S. Oil & Refining
- University of Washington
- Vancouver Hospital
- Walla Walla State Penitentiary
- Washington Athletic Club
- Weyerhauser Co. & Subsidiaries
Statute of Limitations to File Mesothelioma Claim in Washington
There is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for mesothelioma that varies for each state called the statute of limitations. This means if you do not file within the time limit, you will never be able to pursue legal action or obtain compensation. It’s important that you take legal action within this time frame so you do not miss out on receiving the compensation you may deserve. Contact us here to learn more about how we can help. Call (855) 280-7664 Get Started Online
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a deadly and rare form of malignant cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. The most common forms of mesothelioma are: pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Victims with pleural mesothelioma may have respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. Victims with peritoneal mesothelioma may have abdominal swelling, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.
The latency period for mesothelioma is very long. The average latency period is about 30 years, but can be shorter than 15 years or longer than 40 years. This means individuals with mesothelioma may take decades to present symptoms from the time they were exposed to asbestos.
What is asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos is inhaled the fibers irritate and scar the lining of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The lungs become stiff and cannot expand and contract normally. Symptoms of asbestosis are shortness of breath, chest pain, and a dry, persistent cough. Like mesothelioma, the latency period for asbestosis is very long. Symptoms may not present for 10 to 40 years after asbestos exposure.
Military Asbestos Exposure
It is extremely important to know that our attorneys do not sue the military. We seek accountability from the asbestos companies that sold dangerous asbestos products to the military.
Members of all branches of the military may have been exposed to asbestos before it became more restricted in the 1970s. The U.S. military used asbestos products in many areas because of its low cost, durability, and heat resistant properties. The common use of these asbestos products put many U.S. veterans at risk of developing asbestos related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Below is a list of the military branches and common asbestos exposure sites:
- Navy – shipyards, boiler rooms, submarines
- Army – barracks, shipyards, construction
- Marine Corps – armored vehicles, barracks, ships, aircraft
- Coast Guard – inside ships, ships, boiler rooms
- Air Force- bases, airplanes, jets, aircraft maintenance