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Stauffer Chemical Plant

Originally built in 1947 as the Victor Chemical Works but purchased by Stauffer in 1959, the Stauffer Chemical Plant was located in Tarpon Springs on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Occupying 158 acres on the north side of the Anclote River, the plant processed elemental phosphorus from phosphate ore and remained in operation until 1981.

During the 34 years that the plant was in operation, more than 500,000 tons of chemical process wastes and other debris was deposited onsite, which contaminated both the soil and groundwater in the area. The site was placed on the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List in 1994, and most of the plant’s structures were demolished and removed from the site just prior to 1994. The last building standing was demolished in 2010.

Stauffer Chemical Plant and Asbestos

Stauffer Chemical and its predecessor, Victor Chemical Works, were considered bad stewards of the environment. An Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) report noted that air emissions from the Stauffer plant had a negative impact on the environment and surrounding community, from the time the plant originally opened in 1947 until it closed. Even when efforts were made in the 1970s to control air emissions, air standards were still considered to be unsafe.

The same ATSDR report, filed in 2000, notes that massive amounts of raw fibrous asbestos were used during operation of the plant. Many of the asbestos materials have still not been accounted for, which has affected the health of many in the area.

Indeed, the Stauffer Chemical Plant, located just a mile from the Gulf of Mexico, was typical of chemical plants of its era. Most of the plants used large quantities of asbestos in a number of different applications, but mostly as a form of insulation for machinery and equipment that operated at very high temperatures. The material may have also been found in gaskets, on machine brakes and other friction parts, and in clothing that employees were made to wear in order to protect them from fire and burns.

Researchers have determined that even a small amount of exposure to asbestos is dangerous. Unfortunately, the workers at Stauffer Chemical Plant were exposed to massive amounts of the hazardous mineral and many of these employees inhaled miniscule fibers on a regular basis. As a result, numerous plant workers developed asbestos-related diseases such as pleural plaques, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Stauffer Chemical Plant and Asbestos Litigation

The clean-up of the hazardous waste at the Stauffer Chemical Plant Superfund Site in Tarpon Springs finally began in May 2010. Area residents had pushed for the clean-up for decades. The effort will cost approximately $10 million and the project should be completed by mid-summer 2011. Neighbors are questioning the future use of the site, but most agree that building homes on that prime waterfront property would be a mistake, given the materials which were dumped there.

In the meantime, plant workers and those who lived near the dumpsite have suffered due to exposure to toxins like lead, sulfur dioxide and asbestos. Many have chosen to file lawsuits against Stauffer Chemical Company for their injuries and to help recover the cost of medical treatment for their diseases, which include asbestos-related mesothelioma.

Resources for Chemical Plant Workers

If you worked for or lived near the Stauffer Chemical Plant in Tarpon Springs, chances are that you encountered asbestos and are a candidate for developing mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to diagnose, as it remains latent for up to 50 years and is not detected until symptoms arise. Hence, if you worked at the plant in the 1960s or 1970s, when asbestos was still in use, there is a chance you may still be diagnosed with the disease. In order to catch the disease as early as possible, periodic medical testing is essential.

Chemical plant employees with a history of asbestos exposure are encouraged to contact a Patient Advocate at the Mesothelioma Center to ask questions about exposure risk and treatment options or to request further resources. Call (800) 615-2270 to speak to a Patient Advocate directly or fill out the form on this page to request more information.

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