Asbestos in Michigan
ranking in U.S. for mesothelioma & asbestosis deaths
Michigan is a historic part of America's Rust Belt, and the state's legacy of blue-collar workers leaves little doubt why it ranks ninth in the country for deaths attributed to malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. The automobile industry was founded in Detroit, Michigan, by Henry Ford, whose other key contribution to American work culture was assembly line manufacturing. Automobiles from Detroit are partially responsible for the high rate of asbestos-related diseases, for a number of car parts contained asbestos prior to the 1980s. Asbestos was used to make a number of automobile parts, including transmission components, clutches, brake pads, spark plugs, electrical systems gaskets and more. Every year, more than 100 deaths in Michigan are attributed to asbestos. National cancer statistics show the incidence of respiratory cancers in the state are 8 percent higher than the national average.
Treatment Centers in this State
Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Deaths, 1999-2008
- 896mesothelioma deaths in Michigan
- 140asbestosis deaths in Michigan
- 1,036total mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths
Occupations and Environmental Areas at Risk
In Michigan, pipefitters, mechanical engineers, electricians, school teachers, construction workers and assembly line personnel are at an increased risk of developing asbestos-related health conditions.
Asbestos Exposure is Linked to These Other Jobsites in Michigan
Auto industry workers were exposed to countless asbestos-containing components. This exposed assembly line workers and those building the components to hazardous fibers and asbestos dust.
Asbestos Has Been Found at Facilities Operated By:
Other industrial facilities outside the auto industry that are linked to asbestos exposure
Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties
Historically, the highest concentrations of mesothelioma and asbestosis cases in Michigan are located in the Detroit metropolitan area and the state's most populous counties, including Wayne County, Oakland County and Macomb County. Each of these three counties reported more than 100 asbestos-related deaths in the 23-year span from 1979-2001. Researchers believe that this is an underestimate, as the government did not begin recording mesothelioma deaths until 1999.
President Bush Asked for Action
President George W. Bush participated in a 2005 town hall meeting about asbestos legislation in Clinton Township, Michigan. Bush, who hails from Texas, a state that has cracked down on mass torts related to asbestos, argued for Congress to pass a set of national asbestos laws. Congress did not take any action related to asbestos.
Asbestos Litigation in Michigan
Recording-breaking verdicts for asbestos lawsuits have been brought against the largest auto manufactures in Michigan, but these trials were completed in other states. One asbestos-related lawsuit against auto manufacturers in New York resulted in a $53 million verdict for a long-time brake mechanic.
Thousands of workers exposed to asbestos in Michigan factories have filed lawsuits. However, 2,000 cases were dismissed in 2008 after a Wayne County judge threw out the testimony of an expert witness deemed not qualified to read x-rays. After 16 years of out-of-court settlements, a Michigan man was awarded a verdict of $542,000 in 2009 for asbestosis linked to components supplied by the McMaster Carr Supply Company.
Asbestos Imports and Deposits
Naturally occurring deposits of asbestos are found in five areas of Michigan, including Iron Mountain, Marquette, Negaunee, Niagara and Norway. Large amounts of vermiculite contaminated with asbestos fibers also were brought into Michigan for processing. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, the W.R. Grace Company, which owns mines in Libby, Montana, sent 163,000 tons of contaminated vermiculite to Michigan for processing.
Grace filed for bankruptcy in 2001 after facing 250,000 lawsuits but it still generates an annual income of $2 billion. Data from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry shows residents in seven Michigan cities were exposed to vermiculite and asbestos dust between 1948 and 1989.
Cities with Vermiculite and Asbestos Exposure from 1948 to 1989
Asbestos in Michigan Schools & Public Buildings
Asbestos has also been found a several schools, hospitals and public buildings across the state. This list of known sites includes:
Schools, Hospitals and Public Buildings with Documented Asbestos Exposure
Sources:
- Environmental Protection Agency. Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure Among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers - April 2007. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/brakesbrochure.html
- International Journal of Occupational Environmental Health (July-Sept., 2007). Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, but not this asbestos exposure: an amicus brief to the Michigan Supreme Court. Welch, L.S. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17915546
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Asbestos Program. Retrieved from: http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-11407_15333_15369---,00.html
- Profiles of Occupational Injuries and Diseases in Michigan. (June 2004.) Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology. Michigan Department of Health. Retrieved from: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch_ProfilesReport_94691_7.pdf
- Detroit Free Press. Detroit: Ruling Jeopardizes Asbestos Cases: Judge tosses out doctor's medical evidence, his expert testimony. Satyanarayana, Megha. (Nov. 20, 2008.) Retrieved from: http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1693717771.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+20%2C+2008&author=MEGHA+SATYANARAYANA&pub=Detroit+Free+Press&edition=&startpage=B.3&desc=DETROIT%3A+RULING+JEOPARDIZES+ASBESTOS+CASES
- Attorneys at Zamler, Mellen & Shiffman Victorious in Michigan Asbestos Case. News release. (Dec. 18, 2009.) Retrieved from: http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/attorneys-at-zamler-mellen-shiffman-victorious-in-michigan-asbestos-case-129541.php
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and Michigan Department of Community Health. W.R. Grace Dearborn Plant, Dearborn, Michigan. (Aug. 13, 2004.) Retrieved from: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Grace_Dearborn_HC_FS_english_108396_7.pdf
- The American Presidency Project. George W. Bush. XLIII President of the United States: 2001-2009. Remarks in a Discussion on Asbestos Litigation Reform in Clinton Township, Michigan. Jan. 7, 2005. Retrieved from: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=73746&st=&st1=#axzz1cUIsUFf8
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2011). Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2008 [Data file]. Retrieved from CDC WONDER Online Database: http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
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