Pennsylvania
ranking in U.S. for mesothelioma & asbestosis deaths
Deep roots of American history run through Pennsylvania, which was center to the formation of the United States. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the city is known as the home of founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and William Penn. But Pennsylvania is also one of the few states in the country that has a long history of mining asbestos. Coal mining is largely associated with the western regions of Pennsylvania, but records from the United States Geological Survey indicate that four asbestos mines had formerly been located in the southeastern region of the state. The precise type of the asbestos found in these mines is amphibole. One subtype of amphibole asbestos, crocidolite, is considered to be the most dangerous type of asbestos because of the fibers' tendency to remain in the lungs for longer periods of time. This creates the opportunity for mesothelioma cancer.
Treatment Centers in this State
Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Deaths, 1999-2008
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1675mesothelioma deaths in Pennsylvania
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322asbestosis deaths in Pennsylvania
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1997total mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths
Jobsites with Known Asbestos Exposure
The EPA cited a number of facilities throughout the commonwealth that could be harmful to human life, based on hazardous waste and contamination. Many businesses and municipalities were required to clean up their sites. Once cleanup was successfully completed and approved by the EPA, the EPA deleted the site from a National Priorities List (NPL).
A number of other industries like shipbuilding, construction, pipefitting and demolition also contributed to the asbestos problem in this region of the United States. Chemical plants, power plants, shipyards, landfills, mining sites and other locations were included (and later deleted) from the NPL. included and eventually deleted from the NPL. Moreover, Pennsylvania was yet another state that also received/handled large shipments of asbestos from Libby, Montana, from 1948 to 1993. The Environmental Working Group reports at least 4,394 shipments of vermiculite was transported from Libby to at least 10 locations in Pennsylvania.
- Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
- Penn Shipbuilding
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
- Key Highway Shipyard
- Pennsylvania Shipyard (Beaumont)
- Sun Shipbuilding
- Alcoa Aluminum
- Electralloy
- USX Corporation
- Bethlehem Steel
- LTV Steel
Asbestos-Related Deaths in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania currently ranks third in the nation for asbestos-related mortality. Based on statistics from 1979 to 2001, it ranked one spot lower at No. 4. These statistics, provided by the Environmental Working Group and believed to reflect underreporting, show that between 1,348 and 2,215 people died from mesothelioma during this time and that another 1,728 died from asbestosis. That means the death toll over the 23-year span is no less than 3,046 people. Additional state records indicate that approximately 60 different counties in Pennsylvania reported at least one asbestos related death. The following counties posted mortality statistics of 100 deaths or more from 1979 to 2001:
- Philadelphia County (532 to 659)
- Delaware County (370 to 425)
- Allegheny County (278 to 391)
- Montgomery Country (317 to 385)
- Bucks County (127 to 165)
- Lancaster County (123 to 151)
- Luzerne County (110 to 133)
- Schuylkill County (78 to 102)
Asbestos Lawsuits in Pennsylvania
The family of a man from Indiana County, Pennsylvania, was awarded $226,000 by a jury in 2008 after it was ruled that he died because of exposure to asbestos. George Baroni died of mesothelioma in 2005 from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Baroni worked for Fisher Scientific from 1959 to 1994. Fisher Scientific is a named defendant in other asbestos related lawsuits, all involving former employees who develop asbestos related diseases.
Mesothelioma Cases Will Continue
In an interview on the Living on Earth radio program, Daniel Sterman, M.D., a mesothelioma researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, offered this unsettling observation: "Even . . . if no one else in America was exposed to asbestos again, starting tomorrow, we would still have a marked increase in the number of cases [of mesothelioma] over the next 10 to 15 years."
Superfund Sites in Pennsylvania
Because of its mining history – and its history of importing and exporting asbestos – Pennsylvania has had its share of EPA Superfund sites. The BoRit Asbestos Site in Ambler, Pennsylvania, was added to the list in September, 2009. Air and soil tests showed that airborne asbestos levels were not a public health hazard, as long as on-site soil was not aggressively disturbed. As a precautionary measure, visitors were instructed to avoid any direct soil activity. The Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommended the removal of asbestos-contaminated materials in order to prevent cases of asbestos-related diseases. The agencies also recommended that the site be continually evaluated.
Another Superfund site, the Ambler Asbestos Piles, a 25-acre area in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was removed as an NPL site in 1996. There are about 40 residences within a quarter mile of the site, and before it was cleaned up, the air, ground water, soil, sediments and surface water of the site were contaminated with asbestos. Reviews of the site in 1997, 2002 and 2007 ensured that remedies had been implemented fully. However, because a local tributary, Wissahickon Creek, and its flood plain border the site, further reviews are mandated.
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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.
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