Asbestos in Arizona

 

 

Arizona Asbestos

 

Tuscon, Arizona has the highest concentration of asbestos-using industries, according to a report published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.  From 1950s through the 1960s, there were asbestos mines that were operating out of Arizona.  These mines are a part of many facilities in the U.S. for asbestos abatement training.  

 

The highly-concentrated asbestos mines in the state of Arizona left many former mine workers at risk for mesothelioma, and it is no wonder many have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases over the years.  When inhaled, the asbestos fibers attach themselves to the lining of the lungs (pleura) and begin to either scar the tissues or develop into mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining).  

 

Asbestos manufacturers have known for decades about the health risks involved with working around and being exposed to the fibers.  However, they failed to disclose pertinent information about asbestos to the general public and employers could not take preventative and protective measures for their employees’ safety.  

 

 

Occupational Risks in Arizona

 

In addition to the asbestos mines, Arizona also is home to seven major power plants, copper smelting facilities and shipyards.  Because asbestos manufacturers purposely omitted asbestos-related health hazards, employers continued using asbestos products and left hundreds of thousands of Arizona employees at risk for exposure.

 

When asbestos is disturbed, particles are released into the air and inhaled with the oxygen through the respiratory system and into the lungs where they attach, sitting dormant for decades before showing symptoms of mesothelioma. This dormant period is also known as mesothelioma’s latency period. 

 

 

Metal Works:

 

Power Plants:

 

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