Iowa Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that is made up of many small fibers. These fibers can be woven together to form a fabric or added to a base and pressed into boards and hard sheets. The danger associated with asbestos begins when the product that includes the mineral breaks or is otherwise disturbed. When asbestos particles become airborne, they may be inhaled or ingested. The fibers can then become lodged in organs or body cavities and, overtime, an asbestos related illness may develop.

There are no natural deposits of asbestos in Iowa, which means that all of the cases of asbestos-related disease and death come from various industries that utilize the mineral. In most of the industries that contribute to asbestos exposure in Iowa, asbestos was used to insulate pipes. Asbestos is also used in protective clothing to protect workers from flames and heat. Asbestos became more popular as the Industrial Age began because it was cheap, easy to use and possesses a natural resistance to heat and fire. Asbestos was used in the manufacturing of everything from brake pads for cars to tiles for flooring to a wide variety of construction material, such as wall board and adhesives.

At Risk Occupations and Locations in Iowa

In Iowa, power plants are the source of the majority of asbestos exposure incidents. Ten out of the 12 work sites in Iowa that have a record of asbestos problems are power plants in the cities of Carroll, Lansing, Sioux City, Tipton, Storm Lake, Pleasant Hill and Palo. Asbestos insulation was used extensively at the same time that many of these power plants were being built. The insulation around the pipes probably began to get tattered and asbestos particles were set lose. The other two work sites, one in Clinton and one in Des Moines, were chemical manufacturing plants.

There are also other possible sources of asbestos exposure that are not necessarily industry related. Many of the heat-resistant suits made to protect from heat and flames were made of asbestos. Race car drivers even wore asbestos suits during races to help provide some protection from fire in case of an accident. Over time, the suit would wear in areas and asbestos fibers would be exposed. The workers' personal clothes would be covered in the fibers and after taking the suit off, asbestos fibers were often brought into the home on the body or clothing of workers.

One of the highest risk industries for asbestos exposure is the construction industry. Asbestos was used extensively in many hospitals, schools and other government buildings. Before it was known how many risks were associated with asbestos, these buildings would be torn down or renovated without any safety precautions.

Jobsites with Known Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Related Deaths in Iowa

Between 1979 and 1999, there were 460 deaths attributed to asbestos in Iowa. Asbestosis, which is scarring in the lungs, is associated with shortness of breath, diminished lung capacity and a higher risk for a specific kind of cancer called mesothelioma, which is more common. Of the 460 deaths, 91 of them were a result of asbestosis, while the other 369 were attributed to mesothelioma. A mesothelioma patient develops tumors in the lining that surrounds many of the organs in the chest cavity and stomach, including the lungs and the heart. Once this type of cancer metastasizes, it can travel very quickly to other parts of the body. Since injury and illness caused by asbestos can take such a long time to show up, experts believe that the numbers of cases of both asbestosis and mesothelioma will grow over the next few years and peak in 2015.

Legal Resources for Iowa Residents

Asbestos is still in the news in Iowa. Instead of workers taking action against corporations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action against developers. The EPA is considering whether or not to bring charges against a developer in Des Moines Iowa for not taking proper safety and abatement precautions when remodeling an old building. The EPA found asbestos fibers at the work site and in the offices of the developer which means that employees, and probably the public were exposed to asbestos.

If you have either mesothelioma or asbestosis, you have two years from the date of diagnosis to file a claim with the courts. Iowa does, however, treat asbestosis and mesothelioma as separate illnesses. In other words, if you file suit against a company for contracting asbestosis, you can file another claim if mesothelioma is later diagnosed.

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