Asbestos in Washington, D.C.
ranking in U.S. for mesothelioma & asbestosis deaths
Although Washington, D.C., is not a heavy industrial city, the district's many old buildings may pose an asbestos threat to residents and visitors. Government buildings on Capitol Hill, including embassies, military buildings and public offices, may have been constructed with asbestos, and renovation or demolition of these older buildings may release asbestos into the air.
Each branch of the military has at least one base in Washington, D.C., and military bases are notorious for their high levels of asbestos. D.C. is home to three Army bases, one Air Force base, three Coast Guard bases, a Marine base and two naval bases. Military buildings like D.C.'s Fort McNair and Bolling Air Force Base were required to be insulated with asbestos when they were built, and those who served and lived in the bases may have inhaled the fibers.
Although the District of Columbia is not regarded as an asbestos haven, several lawsuits involving companies who did business in the District were defendants of asbestos lawsuits.
Treatment Centers in Washington, D.C.
Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Deaths, 1999-2008
- 23mesothelioma deaths in Washington D.C.
- 0asbestosis deaths in Washington D.C.
- 23total mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths
Occupations at Risk
Construction workers in Washington, D.C., potentially face one of the most significant asbestos exposure risks in the area. Because many of the buildings were constructed before the 1980s, most of the offices, hotels, embassies and museums contain asbestos. Construction workers who are assigned to repair or tear down these structures face an elevated risk of inhaling asbestos if proper abatement procedures are not followed.
Maintenance workers in the underground tunnels below Capitol Hill are also at risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos levels were found to be up to 40 times the legal limit in the tunnels, but crew workers were not informed of the heavy concentrations of the dust. Safety equipment was not provided to the workers until 2006, when respirators became required because of an enforcement action from the Architect of the Capitol. Seven of 10 tunnel workers developed asbestosis, and all are estimated to be at high risk for mesothelioma and lung cancer.
- Bolling Air Force Base
- Farragut North Metro Stop
- George Washington University Rice Hall
- MLK Library
- Naval Research Laboratory
- Union Station Metro Stop
- Washington DC Navy Yard
- Coast Guard Headquarters
- Fort McNair
- Marine Safety Center
- National Response Center
- The Pentagon
- Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Jobsites at Risk
Capitol Hill, one of Washington's centerpieces, is home to more than 20 federal buildings. By the 1870s, architects were wiring buildings for electricity and piped water, potentially using asbestos-contaminated construction materials to provide the plumbing and lighting. Capitol Hill workers at the Senate and House building offices, Library of Congress and the U.S. Marine Barracks may also be exposed to asbestos in the old structures.
The Washington Navy Yard was originally a shipbuilding center until the War of 1812, but by World War II it was transformed into the world's largest naval ordnance plant, manufacturing weapons like battleship guns and clockwork torpedoes. During its manufacturing era, asbestos use was widespread. Ships were constructed with asbestos insulation to prevent the vessels from catching fire, while factory equipment was insulated with asbestos to reduce the risk of the high-heat machinery overheating. Navy yard workers may have been exposed to asbestos on the steel and iron casting equipment, blast furnaces and other facility machines.
Washington, D.C., Asbestos Lawsuits
Because the nation's capital is home to the U.S. Supreme Court, many asbestos lawsuits have gone to trial in the area, but fewer cases have been actually filed in lower-level Washington D.C. courts. One of the most successful local cases was filed by a former employee of Washington Hospital Center. The plaintiff, Anita Jones, contracted peritoneal mesothelioma after working as a cleaner and supervisor for the hospital for 23 years, where she came in contact with friable asbestos fireproofing materials and asbestos in the building's HVAC system. The Washington Hospital Center appealed the ruling but the courts upheld the original decision to compensate Jones.
A former boiler service worker in metropolitan Washington, D.C., sued Burnham Corporation and Foster Wheeler, LLC, charging he developed asbestosis because he worked around their "unreasonably dangerous and defective asbestos-containing boiler products." Basil F. Weakley, Jr., worked from 1964-79 as a boiler serviceman and repaired boilers sold to his primary employer, the Fairfax County Public Schools. He also worked for Allen Mitchell & Co and Capitol Boiler Works. A judge issued a summary judgment for the defendants, but that was overturned on appeal, and the case was settled out of court shortly thereafter.
Asbestos Arrests in Washington, D.C.
In September, 2011, two men from the District of Columbia Department of the Environment were arrested on charges of demanding bribes to cover up asbestos contamination. Joe L. Parrish and Gregory A. Scott were inspectors at the DDOE, and federal agents charged them with receiving $5,000 in bribes. The charges stemmed from an August, 2011, earthquake in the Mid-Atlantic area. The U.S. Justice Department said the inspectors asked for money in exchange for not reporting asbestos issues at an apartment building that was undergoing renovations when the earthquake hit. A witness cooperating with federal agents said each inspector received $2,500.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 16th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
