Texas Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Risks

Texas is the state most involved in the domestic oil industry, and companies like Shell, Gulf, and Mobil call this state home. Unfortunately, the oil industry is one of the hardest hit in terms of asbestos problems, with millions of employees being exposed to the toxic mineral over the last 100 years.

Although Texas has large stretches of rural areas, it also has a number of larger cities, where asbestos problems have surfaced. In 1999, there were 125 reported deaths from mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Furthermore, asbestosis and other respiratory problems have contributed to asbestos-related deaths in Texas.

At Risk Occupations and Locations in Texas

With the petroleum industry booming, companies during the industrial revolution needed a way to protect their plants from fires and cut down on machinery corrosion. Using asbestos was ideal because this substance can be used to create materials that are heat-resistant (and, essentially, fireproof), flexible, durable, lightweight, strong, and cheap. Asbestos was used to create products like gaskets and insulation and even uniforms for employees. However, overtime, general wear and tear causes the asbestos fibers to be released back into the air, where employees can inhale or ingest them. Although the use of asbestos made these plants safer from fire, it increased other health risks and put millions at risk of exposure to the toxic mineral. All of the major oil companies used asbestos in some capacity.

Texas also has a number of other popular industries known to use asbestos. Along the Gulf Coast, shipyards are common, and asbestos was often used in the construction of vessels. Until the 1980s, asbestos (especially in insulation) was used in this industry for many building materials. In addition, asbestos was utilized in the electrical power and chemical industries, two other industries that were major powerhouses in Texas for many years (and still are today).

There are also deposits of asbestos naturally found in Texas. Although these are typically not a threat to someone simply passing through the area, mines used to retrieve this asbestos for commercial use were very dangerous. If not regulated, people living in this area could be exposed to a high concentration of asbestos in the air and water. The naturally-occurring asbestos in Texas is located northwest of San Antonio, in the Canyon State Natural Area vicinity.

It is important to note that Texas, due to its location, is a hotspot for violent winds and tornados. When a structure built using asbestos is damaged in high winds, the asbestos fibers fill the air and become a danger to everyone living and working in the area. Therefore asbestos should be closely monitored in homes, even if it is contained in the structure and currently not a threat.

Jobsites with Known Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Related Deaths in Texas

Since Texas is so highly involved in a number of industries that used asbestos, there have been thousands of deaths from asbestos-related illnesses in the state. According to one study, there were almost 2,800 asbestos-related deaths in Texas between 1979 and 1999. About half of these deaths were due to asbestosis, while the other half were due to mesothelioma. Harris County, Jefferson County, and Dallas County were the locations where the largest amount of deaths occurred.

Texas is 7th in the United State in terms of mesothelioma cases, with a mortality rate of more than 8 per million. With more and more people reporting asbestos-related illnesses in this state every day, that number could continue to rise. Asbestos exposure in Texas may be regulated now, but cases are still being discovered as these illnesses take many years to materialize. Someone exposed to asbestos in the 1960s could receive a mesothelioma diagnosis today, for example.

Legal Resources for Texas Residents

There have been many lawsuits in Texas regarding asbestos-related illnesses and personal injury. Some of these cases have set precedence in the state and in the entire United States. For example in 2000, in the case of Pustejovsky versus Rapid-American Corp., Texas' Supreme Court ruled that someone affected by asbestos could sue more than once. This is due to the complicated medical conditions that may arise later in life. This ruling has changed the course of many lives, as it is common to need help for asbestosis one year but incur additional medical bills following a mesothelioma diagnosis a decade later.

Click Here to receive a packet with additional information on mesothelioma.

State Index