Asbestos in Virginia
Virginia Asbestos
Virginia has shipyards, power plants and deposits of naturally occurring asbestos as sources of exposure. There are two asbestos-filled mines near Richmond that have already been shut down. Another mine is located in Louisa. Samples of the mines in Virginia were tested, yielding results of toxic levels of asbestos.
Power plants in Virginia utilized asbestos materials heavily to provide its pipelines with the protective insulation. Power plants in Virginia are constantly running to generate electrical power for the surrounding homes and businesses. The pipelines in the power plants are insulated with asbestos to protect workers from the heat. Asbestos is widely used to insulate power plant pipes due to its resistance to heat and flames.
Shipyards in Virginia 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.
