Asbestos in Alabama

 

 

Alabama Asbestos

Home to industrial companies that used or made asbestos-containing products, Alabama factory workers were exposed to the deadly fibers.  Industries heavily trafficked with asbestos products were those needing materials that were heat and flame resistant, as well as those seeking cheap insulation materials.  Factories, mills and steel shops commonly used asbestos products in the construction of their buildings and machinery.  Over the years, the plumbing industry has also been placed at risk for exposure due to the use of asbestos in cement-containing pipe products.  The issue of asbestos use in buildings and work environments did not plague only the state of Alabama, but affected states across the U.S. equally.  

 

Secondhand Mesothelioma in Alabama

With so many different factories, mills and construction builders in Alabama, the families of those whose family member worked in the asbestos-exposed work environment were also at risk for exposure. Although the exposure is secondary, the risks are still high and can still lead to mesothelioma after a latency period. Some children of asbestos-exposed workers have been found to eventually develop mesothelioma decades later.  Preventative measures for secondhand exposure was not adopted back then because employers were not aware of the health hazards of asbestos—the manufacturers NEVER disclosed any of the toxin’s hazards to the general public, particularly the employers who were exposing their employees to the asbestos products daily.  

This lack of asbestos knowledge left workers exposed to the fibers without any protective gear. Due to the lack of protective wear during work, workers went home in their asbestos-filled clothing, exposing their families.  Asbestos, when disturbed by strong vibrations or movements, can be microscopic and undetectable by the naked eye.  However, because asbestos fibers are usually small in size, they are easily inhaled and adhere to the lining of the lungs as it builds to eventually become mesothelioma.  The building process leading up to mesothelioma is the latency period.

 

 

Shipyards:

Bender Shipbuilding

Alabama Dry Dock

 Power Plants:

Browns Ferry Nuclear

Gaston Steam Plant

Green County Steam Plant

Colbert Fossil Plant

Barry Power

Gorgas Electric

 

Metal Works

Birmingham Steel Corp.

 

Asbestos-Related Deaths in Alabama

Approximately 741 asbestos-related deaths have occurred in the state of Alabama alone since the late 1970s.  Of the 741 asbestos-related deaths, 507 of them were from asbestosis (another asbestos-induced lung disease that causes scarring of tissues leading to restricted breathing), and 248 were from mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining).  The latency period that comes before symptoms begin to develop and show ranges anywhere from a few weeks to a few decades, all depending on the individual.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next