Asbestos in North Dakota
North Dakota Asbestos
North Dakota has the least asbestos fatalities than any other state. This may be due to the fact that what industries North Dakota does have are confined to a handful of locations. The state is mostly known for its agriculture, not its industries. What few power plants and refineries North Dakota has still puts workers at risk for asbestos exposure.
Jobs with Asbestos Exposure
The power plants are responsible for most, if not all, asbestos exposure that takes place in North Dakota. The Beulah Coyote Station and Stanton Powerhouse employ hundreds to work in their facilities. Within those facilities, the pipe insulation may contain asbestos due to its ability to resist fire and heat.
Oil refineries such as BP Amoco also had asbestos. Most of the asbestos in any oil refinery is through the insulation and pipe fittings. The asbestos insulation helps keep the chemicals heated at the right temperature as it is turned into gasoline from the crude oil that is drilled in the ground.
Imported asbestos was another source of exposure for those who lived in North Dakota. Majority of the asbestos received came from Libby, Montana. The asbestos is processed and turned into insulation by Robinson Insulation Company located in North Dakota. The fibers/insulation are then distributed and used in public buildings such as schools and businesses. Buildings that have since been demolished had traces of asbestos.
Asbestos-Related Deaths
Up to five asbestos-induced diseases are reported in North Dakota every year. This makes North Dakota the state with the lowest asbestos-induced illnesses in the United States. Less than 100 deaths have been reported and of those, less than 35 were from asbestosis (scarring of the lungs), while the majority were due to mesothelioma.
