Cincinnati - Asbestos & Mesothelioma Resources

Founded in 1788 and dubbed its present name in 1790, Cincinnati is positioned on the Ohio River and borders Kentucky. Cincinnati was the nation's first major inland city. Because of its location on the Ohio River, it quickly became a center of commerce, a tradition which continues today. The city is the home of several major corporations, including Proctor and Gamble and the Kroger Company. In 2007 Cincinnati was the nation's 56th largest city with a population of 332,458. In recent years, the city has experienced extensive downtown development.

Asbestos exposure problems in Cincinnati have centered around the industrial sector. Prior to federal asbestos regulations of the 1970s and '80s, asbestos was widely used in many industries. Welders, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, and construction workers were likely to have been exposed to asbestos.

Work that involves manipulating asbestos-containing materials is likely to cause asbestos dust to be released into the air. Inhaling asbestos dust can lead to asbestosis (a chronic, disabling lung disease) and to the rare cancer mesothelioma, as well as to other cancers. Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take years and even decades to appear. If you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos, it is wise to be tested. The earlier a problem is caught, the easier it is to treat.

Statistical Data

** 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 the earlier years was actually twice that reflected by government statistics.

Historical Asbestos Exposure Sites

Power Plants

Electricity was supplied to Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company before 1994. In 1994, CG&E merged with PSI Energy to become Cinergy.

Like other power plants across the country, power plants in the Cincinnati area used asbestos extensively because of its insulating and fire-retardant properties. People who worked in Cincinnati power plants prior to the mid-1980s were likely exposed to asbestos. Today, most power plants across the nation have conducted asbestos abatement programs, covering asbestos that could not be removed. Asbestos is considered relatively safe if it is covered to be less likely to release hazardous dust into the air.

Vermiculite Processing Plant

A vermiculite processing plant in Cincinnati is known to have processed vermiculite ore from the Libby mines in Montana. In the 1990s it was discovered that vermiculite from the Libby mines contained asbestos. Vermiculite ore from the Zonolite Mountain in Libby was shipped to processing plants throughout the country between 1920 and 1993.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry began an extensive study of the Libby mine shipments as soon as it was aware of the problem. A fertilizer plant in Marysville, Ohio processed the bulk of the shipments of Libby vermiculite that came to Ohio. The Marysville fertilizer plant stopped receiving Libby vermiculite when it became aware of the problem in 1980 and in 2001 completely stopped the use of vermiculite in its fertilizer.

Vermiculite is used in construction products, such as roofing and wallboard, in addition to being used in fertilizer and potting soil. Workers at any plants using Libby vermiculite were exposed to asbestos. Although the Libby vermiculite mines have been shut down, anyone currently working with vermiculite should be aware that there is a possibility it could contain asbestos.

Existing Asbestos Exposure Hazards

Those working in industries where asbestos is still used need to be aware of the possibility of exposure. If you believe that your company is not following proper asbestos safety procedures contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Asbestos in the News

In August 2008, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fined a Cincinnati foundry $128,700 for several serious violations of federal workplace safety standards. The violations at Cast-Fab Technologies, Inc. included fire hazards, chemical hazards, and asbestos exposure issues.

Regulations and Regulatory Agencies

Office of Public Affairs
Occupation Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-1999
1-800-321-6742 (1-800-321-OSHA)

For information on the health effects of asbestos and for information on asbestos testing contact:

Information Resources Branch
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Robert A. Taft Laboratories
Mailstop C-18
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
1-800-356-4674 (1800-35-NIOSH)
eidtechinfo@cdc.gov

Treatment Centers

If you have mesothelioma and need medical treatment, treatment centers in Ohio include:

UC Barrett Cancer Center at University Hospital
234 Goodman Street
Cincinnati, OH 45219
(513) 584-3200

Because most asbestos-related cancers are generally caused by workplace exposure, asbestos cancers are rare in children and teenagers, but they can occur. The Cincinnati Children's Hospital is one of the nation's most comprehensive treatment centers for childhood cancer.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039
(513) 636-4200
(800) 344-2462
TTY: 513-636-4900