Albuquerque - Asbestos & Mesothelioma Resources

Founded in 1706 by Spanish settlers, Albuquerque is now one of New Mexico 's fastest growing cities. The Rio Grande River runs directly through the city while to the east are the Sandia Mountains. The city 's population expanded rapidly after new residents began arriving in the 1940s. This growth was fueled by the establishment of Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratory. In 2007, Albuquerque was the nation 's 34th largest city with a population of 518,271.

Albuquerque 's economy is primarily based on technology. It is the center of the New Mexico Technology Corridor, which involves several companies along the Rio Grande including the Sandia National Laboratory, Los Alamos Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. Concern over asbestos in Albuquerque has been concentrated on Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratory.

Prior to the 1980s, asbestos was widely used on military bases and in aircraft and land vehicles. People who lived or worked on these bases before the 1980s were likely exposed to asbestos. The substance is hazardous when it is friable because it can release toxic fibers into the air. Breathing asbestos fibers can lead to asbestosis, a disabling lung disease, and mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer.

Statistical Data

According to data compiled by the Environmental Working Group from statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control, New Mexico ranks 41st among the states in terms of asbestos-related deaths. Bernalillo County has experienced the highest number of asbestos-related deaths of any New Mexico county. The following chart tracks the number of asbestos-related deaths in Albuquerque and its surrounding counties:

** The government did not begin tracking mesothelioma separately as a cause of death until 1998. When they did, the mortality rate nationwide for deaths from mesothelioma more than doubled. The lower number in each range represents an estimated mortality rate based on asbestos cancers that were thought to be mesothelioma. The higher range reflects the mesothelioma rate if one assumes that the incidence during previous years was actually twice that reflected by government statistics.

Historical Asbestos Exposure Sites

Laboratory

Sandia National Laboratory - Sandia National Laboratory was founded in the 1940s to assist with the Manhattan Project. Today, Sandia is run by Sandia Corporation, a division of Lockheed Martin, for the U.S. Department of Energy 's National Nuclear Security Administration. Records show that asbestos was extensively used at Sandia, and employees who worked with gaskets, installed pipe, water heaters, insulation, tiles, or soundproofing were especially at risk for asbestos exposure. The government has conducted extensive cleanup operations at Sandia and strict regulations are now in place to protect workers.

Military Base

Kirtland Air Force Base - Kirtland Air Force Base in southeast Albuquerque was established in the 1940s. Environmental concerns over soil and groundwater contamination were raised in the late 1980s and the Air Force began an extensive cleanup of all 16 areas of concern. These areas had been used to dump toxic solvents, pesticides, and other hazardous materials, including asbestos from demolished buildings and other sources. Asbestos was used in many of the mechanical parts used in the aircraft and land vessels maintained at the base. Mechanics, welders, and people involved with maintenance and demolition would have had the greatest risk of asbestos exposure.

Power Plants

Power New Mexico, better known as PNM, was founded in 1917 as the Albuquerque Gas and Electric Company. Today, it is one of New Mexico 's main suppliers of electrical power. PNM power plants used asbestos extensively before the 1980s federal asbestos regulations, and workers prior to these regulations were likely exposed to asbestos. Along with PNM, most power plants have remedied their asbestos problems.

Asbestos in the News

In December 2007, two Albuquerque construction companies made the headlines for failing to provide safety gear to employees removing asbestos. Maloy Construction Inc. and Deerfield Corporation were cited for 17 violations of asbestos regulations while building a hospital in Mescalero, New Mexico. The U.S. Department of Labor 's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined Maloy $75,600 for five violations and fined Deerfield $81,900 for 12 violations.

Regulations and Regulatory Agencies

For information on regulations protecting workers contact:

Office of Public Affairs
Occupation Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor Room N-3647
200 Constitution Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-1999
1-800-321-6742 (1-800-321-OSHA)
TDD for the hearing impaired 1-877-889-5627