Asbestos in Oregon

 

 

Oregon Asbestos

 

Oregon has a strong background in the shipbuilding industry, with several shipyards along its northwest coast. As shipyard history entails, many contain asbestos either in the ships already built, being built or being demolished. Thousands of workers in these shipyards are at risk for inhaling asbestos fibers and even eventually developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. 

 

In addition to the presence of a shipbuilding industry, Oregon also has both power and chemical plants within its state borders. Both these plants have a history of asbestos usage.

 

Jobs with Asbestos Exposure

 

Shell Oil has a refinery in the state of Oregon. The processing plant more than likely uses asbestos-containing insulation to cover its pipelines that convert crude oil into gasoline. The hundreds of workers in this refinery risk being exposed to asbestos every time they arrive at work. The asbestos may not be a threat, but at some point, the mere disturbance of a section of the fibers can cause it to release into the air and later inhaled by workers. Because the plant processed a very flammable chemical (oil), asbestos was used to insulate due to its resistance to fire and heat.

 

Shipyards in Oregon were also affected by asbestos. Many vessels have been demolished and built in these very shipyards. Asbestos-containing products are commonly used in the construction of these ships from the 1930s until the 1980s. When asbestos is disturbed, the fibers are released into the air and made available for human exposure.

 

 

Shipyards:

 

Metal Works:

Power Plants:

Asbestos-Related Deaths

 

Oregon’s asbestos fatality rate of over 850 deaths since 1980, with mesothelioma evenly accounted for in the total. Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

 

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