History of Asbestos in Arkansas
As with all U.S. states, the heavy manufacturing industries in Arkansas have a history of exposing blue-collar workers to harmful levels of asbestos. Manufacturing plants that incorporate heat into the production process are especially at risk. This is due to the fact that asbestos was the material of choice for flame retardation during much of the 20th centuries.
Arkansas industries that have been linked to asbestos exposure include paper mills, oil processing plants, power plants and chemical companies, among others. Any residents living in areas with high manufacturing employment may also be at risk for mesothelioma. Such areas include El Dorado, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Little Rock and Pine Bluff.
Though naturally occurring asbestos is not as prevalent in Arkansas as some states, pockets of the fiber have been discovered in western areas of the state. The two areas most associated with naturally occurring asbestos are Hot Springs and Russellville.
Companies with Potential Asbestos Exposure
The following companies and workplaces, as well as numerous others, are Arkansas jobsites that have been identified as potential sources for asbestos exposure. This link to asbestos and mesothelioma is either due to the use of asbestos products at some point in time, or the presence of asbestos products as insulation or a fire retardant in the buildings themselves.
- ACME Brick Co.
- Alcoa Aluminum
- Amerace Corp.
- American Hard Rubber Co.
- American Oil Co.
- Amoco
- Arizona Power & Light
- Arkansas Electrical Co-op
- Arkansas Kraft Paper Mill
- Arkansas Power & Light
- B.C. Bunn
- Ball Service Distribution and Engineering
- Breeding Insulation
- Burlington Mills
- Bush Brothers Cannery
- Campbell Soup Plant
- Columbian Carbon Company
- Cooper Tire & Rubber
- Cross Oil Smackover
- Crossett Paper Mill
- Dierks Paper Mill
- Dixie Cup Plant
- Dodson Insulation
- Dravo Steel
- Eagle Home & Building Insulators
- El Dorado Chemical Plant
- Fischer Cement
- Flint Creek Power Station
- General Sheet Metal Co.
- Georgia Pacific
- Ideal Cement Plant
- International Paper Co.
- John Monk Refinery
- Kimberly Clark Mill
- Lake Catherine Power Plant
- Lion Oil Co.
- Monsanto Chemical Co.
- Municipal Steam Plant
- Natural Gas Pipeline Co.
- Northeast Arkansas Insulation
- Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation
- Osceola Finishing
- Ozark Insulation
- Reynolds Metal
- Riceland Foods
- Skelly Oil
- Southside High School, Fort Smith
- Southwestern Bell
- Sparks Medical Center
- St. Joseph Hospital
- Triangle Insulation
- U.S. Army Pine Bluff
- Union Floors
- University of Arkansas
Asbestos-related Deaths in Arkansas
The U.S. government did not start keeping accurate records of mesothelioma deaths until the 1990s. However, retroactive surveys of Arkansas death certificates suggest that the number of mesothelioma deaths for the state were between 155 and 274 between the years of 1979 and 2000. Similarly, deaths caused by asbestosis for this time period are estimated at 121 deaths.
More precise records for asbestos-related deaths began being tallied in 1999. Between 1999 and 2004, 77 deaths due to mesothelioma were reported for the state of Arkansas.
Where to Get Help
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
Arkansas has two cancer treatment facilities that have experienced mesothelioma doctors on hand. Two of the best mesothelioma treatment facilities in the country are also located right across the Arkansas border, in Texas.
Highlands Oncology Group
3232 N. North Hills Blvd.
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703
Patient Information: 1-800-381-6939
Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
4301 W. Markham St.
Little Rock, AR 72205
Patient Information: 501-686-6000
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
University of Texas
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77030
Patient Information: 713-792-2121
Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza
Houston, Texas 77030
Patient Information: 713-798-1354
Arkansas Mesothelioma Attorneys
Arkansas mesothelioma attorneys can also work with you to determine who is responsible for your asbestos exposure and if there is enough evidence to take your case to court.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness in Arkansas, we encourage you to contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation. We will work directly with you to fight for the fair compensation you deserve – 888-632-7574.