Founded in 1817 by the French Mississippi Company, New Orleans boasts an immensely rich history filled with French and Spanish influence. The city was under French rule until 1763, when the Treaty of Paris transferred control to the Spanish Empire. For 40 years the Spanish ruled the colony, until Louisiana reverted to the French in 1801. Only two years later Napoleon sold the land to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase. The city flourished, and by 1840 it was the wealthiest and third-most populous city in the United States.

The early 20th century brought innovation and industrial growth around the nation, and especially to New Orleans. The state of Louisiana itself is home to many industrial trades, such as oil drilling, power generation, and mining. Because of its geographical location at the junction of two large waterways, maritime industries naturally took hold in the area as well.

Shipbuilding holds a long and profitable history in New Orleans, and is notorious for its avid use of asbestos (a toxic natural mineral that causes diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma). Research shows individuals who worked in shipbuilding during asbestos' heydays (1930s-1970s) hold a higher-than-average risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Data reveals 26 percent of those suffering with mesothelioma are former sailors and shipyard workers. This group also accounts for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer and 13 percent of severe respiratory diseases.

Another historical industrial source of asbestos in New Orleans is the Zonolite Company, a plant that processed asbestos-laden vermiculite from Libby, Montana. In operation from 1965-1989, the site is considered a government priority regarding asbestos contamination. Surrounded by a mix of residential, commercial and industrial land, much of the site has been cleaned, but some vermiculite processing equipment remains in the warehouse. Important to note, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports, "Insufficient information is available to determine whether the processing equipment or on-site soil contains residual asbestos."

In addition to industrial application, asbestos was also widely used for automotive and construction purposes. So highly valued for its fire and heat resistance, asbestos was used in breaks, clutches, pipe coverings, plumbing, and most extensively in insulation. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website covering response to Hurricane Katrina reports: "All structures (both residential and commercial) built before 1975 may contain significant amounts of asbestos. In particular large structures built before 1975 typically contain asbestos pipe wrap, siding, ceiling tiles, and other building materials high in asbestos content. Additionally, structures built after 1975 may also contain asbestos."

An article published in The Louisiana Weekly (2006) reported that nearly 123,158 tons of asbestos has been shipped into Orleans Parish during the past few decades. A total of 26 tons arrived just days before Hurricane Katrina hit in an area encompassed by residential and commercial property. Despite overwhelming evidence of the chemical's toxic effects, asbestos can still be found in modern use in New Orleans and across the country.

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