Asbestos in Connecticut
Connecticut Asbestos
Despite being one of the smaller states in the United States, Connecticut has very high risk of asbestos exposure, particularly due to its large involvement in the marine/shipyard industry. Asbestos-containing products can be found in schools, buildings, factories, restaurants, and of course, shipyards. Asbestos is not known to be naturally occurring in the state, but there is a factory in Torrington where asbestos is processed.
Jobs with Asbestos Exposure
Those who work in shipyards and power plants, in addition to those who work in the asbestos processing factory, are also at risk for exposure. 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.
Asbestos found in these shipyards, buildings, factories, and other man-made sites can grow old over time and begin to become frail, friable and even more dangerous when disturbed. Friable asbestos is easily disturbed and is more likely to release small microscopic fibers into the air, increasing the risk of human exposure.
- Millstone Power Plant
- Connecticut Yankee Atomic Plant
Shipyards:
- Groton Naval Base
- Groton Electric Boat Co.
Deaths Caused by Asbestos
Nearly 500 asbestos-related deaths occurred in Connecticut over a 20-year span between starting from 1979. Approximately 50 percent of the asbestos deaths were due to mesothelioma, cancer of the lung linings. The remaining 50 percent was attributed to asbestosis, an asbestos-related disease that causes severe scarring of the lung lining.
