Asbestos in Michigan

 


Michigan Asbestos

 

Michigan has many deposits of naturally occurring asbestos. Most of these deposits are around towns such as:

 

 

Jobs with Asbestos Exposure

 

Michigan has a very large automobile industry. Asbestos has been known to be used in brakes and brake pads. Depending on how old these factories are, there also lies the risk of asbestos found in the building’s insulation and pipes. 

 

Asbestos manufacturers from some plants in Michigan dumped their asbestos waste in landfills and places where children played. This put the lives of each child in danger of asbestos exposure. If any child inhaled the fibers, they can eventually develop mesothelioma. Although the disease has a latency period of up to 50 years before showing any symptoms, it can result in either asbestosis (scarring of the lungs) or mesothelioma (cancer of the lungs’ lining). 

 

Power plants are known for its usage of asbestos to provide insulation for its pipes. Asbestos is composed of small, thin fibers that are woven together to create products that are fireproof and heat resistant, providing ideal insulation for pipes that generate millions of megawatts of electrical energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

 
 

Power Plants:

 
 
 

Shipyards:

 
 
 

Asbestos-Related Deaths

 

Michigan is ranked 12th for the number of mesothelioma cases filed, and 38th for its mortality rate due to the asbestos-induced cancer. The high asbestos mortality rate may be due to the fact that Michigan is home to America’s major motor manufacturers: Ford, General Motors and Chrysler.

 

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