Asbestos in Tennessee
Tennessee Asbestos
Tennessee is not without its share of asbestos issues. The state has numerous industries that place thousands of workers at risk for asbestos exposure. Many today are exhibiting issues due to their asbestos exposure through diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lung (pleura).
Jobs with Asbestos Exposure
The International Paper Company is headquartered in Memphis and has used asbestos in its daily operations for decades. Millions of employees are at risk for asbestos exposure, as well as the eventual development of mesothelioma or asbestosis. A number of other paper companies have also used asbestos and have also placed thousands of workers at risk for exposure to the toxic fibers. A study conducted in 2002 showed that over 35 percent of workers in the paper industry have been exposed at some point when working for at least a year.
Tennessee is also home to one of the largest public utility companies in the United States. The Tennessee Valley Authority generates and produces electrical power to millions of businesses and homes since 1933. Employing thousands of workers, the power plant has also placed those thousands at risk for asbestos exposure. Asbestos is used to insulate pipes and pipe fitters. It is very possible that the materials utilized to construct the power plant also contain asbestos.
Power Plants:
- Watts Bar Nuclear
- Tennessee Valley Authority
Asbestos-Related Deaths
Since 1979, over 600 people in Tennessee have died from an asbestos-induced disease. Over 200 of the total have died from asbestos exposure. Naturally, a lot of the deaths were concentrated in urban areas in Tennessee. The state is ranked 24th in the nation for the number of mesothelioma cases.
