Alabama Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

Alabama has been home to several industries where workers are commonly exposed to asbestos. Indeed, any industry that uses electricity, heat, flame, or corrosive materials in its processes will have a use for the insulating and pliable qualities of asbestos. Marine construction and repair, steel and iron mills, and power generating stations are some of the businesses that operate or have operated in Alabama that are sources of asbestos exposure. Asbestos has also been used in the manufacture of pipes for water systems in areas of Alabama. Added to cement, it was seemingly well suited for piping that is resistant to both heat and cold temperatures..

At-Risk Occupations and Locations in Alabama

Millwrights, machinists, welders, and anyone operating machinery such as cutters or grinders have a high risk of exposure. Asbestos was commonplace in shipyards, mills, and anywhere where there was a need for heat or flame protection. As a spray coating, it can be found in pipes, turbines, electrical conduits, and even on walls and doors. Another common risk of exposure is the safety clothing worn to protect workers from burns. Because of its flexibility and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used in the manufacture of safety gloves, leggings, aprons, overcoats, and masks.

The risk of secondhand exposure increased with workers wearing their work clothes home and exposing their families through handling and laundering. Asbestos is most dangerous if it is damaged or disturbed. Frailable asbestos can release airborne dust particles that when inhaled, attach to the mesothelial lining of the lungs. Lung cancer and asbestosis (non-cancerous scarring of lung tissue) have been linked to asbestos exposure. Also, exposure to asbestos is the sole known cause of mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer which can affect the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen.

Jobsites with Known Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos-Related Deaths in Alabama

Since 1979, there have been 741 asbestos related deaths in Alabama. Of those 741 deaths, 507 of them have been from asbestosis, and 248 of them from mesothelioma. Although some individuals may develop symptoms within months of asbestos exposure, it can be years or even decades before others show any signs of either asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Legal Resources for Alabama Residents

There have been a number of important court cases in Alabama in regards to asbestos claims. The first was Pace v. Armstrong World Industries in 1991. The court determined that families of people who die of asbestos-related illnesses could legally collect "wrongful death" damages.

Another major case from 1995 was Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp. v. Gant. The significance of this case was that the Alabama Supreme Court allowed the jury to determine whether those bringing suit had been exposed to Owens-Corning products containing asbestos, and that a consolidation of cases was appropriate.

Recently, an Alabama court ruled that those seeking redress for damages due to diseases caused by toxic substances must file suit within two years of their exposure to the substance, but only after they become sick. This ruling was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court as it created an impossible "catch-22" for many of the victims, as symptoms of the disease may not appear for many years. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case. This leaves an avenue open for family members to collect damages in wrongful death suits, but little hope for the victims themselves to recoup any damages while they are still alive.

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