History of Asbestos in California
Today, California is on the front edge of the environmental movement. For the thousands of California residents and workers in the 20th century that were exposed to asbestos and have developed asbestosis or mesothelioma, that effort may be of little consequence.
California is one of the largest United States, both in size and population. Tragically, it is also estimated to be the state with the highest number of mesothelioma deaths. The prosperous state is home to numerous industries typically linked to asbestos exposure.
It is the largest agricultural state, producing everything from dates and avocados to milk and green onions. Fertilizers and soil products were frequently contaminated with asbestos, often from additives such as vermiculite that came from mines where asbestos was also present. They were also typically produced in chemical plants that utilized asbestos as an insulator and heat protector in the facilities and production processes.
The largest state coastline is California's. With so much coastal real estate, shipping was a natural industry and took a heavy hold, particularly near Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Richmond, San Diego, and San Francisco. Accordingly, several large naval bases call California's ports home.
Ships, both commercial and naval, built before 1980, are assumed to contain asbestos, especially in plumbing, the engine room, and between walls and decks. Because crews were typically below deck, it is believed that asbestos concentrations could become very high and many mesothelioma diagnoses are linked to asbestos exposure while working on a ship.
The petroleum industry of California produces more than 218 million barrels of crude oil a year and is the third largest oil producing state in the country. Oil has long been associated with asbestos exposure, in great part because extensive heat and fire safety precautions in facilities, equipment and employee uniforms led to widespread use of asbestos to slow the spread of fire and protect from heat.
Asbestos occurs naturally in several areas of the state including the Sierra foothills and along the coast range. It can be on the ground surface, and there is some concern that at least one of the state's recreation areas, such as Clear Creek Recreation Area, in San Benito Country, is susceptible to the substance being stirred up and breathed in by hikers, bikers, horse riders, and ATV riders.
Companies with Potential Asbestos Exposure
The state is large and the list of companies, organizations and premises that were likely contaminated with asbestos is too long to list here. Below, we've listed types of companies and buildings that typically used asbestos in their facilities, products, or manufacturing processes. The list is meant to be helpful but is by no means exhaustive.
- Shipyards, dry docks, commercial and naval ships built before 1980
- Schools, hospitals, airports and other public and private buildings built before 1980, especially if renovation was conducted without asbestos abatement or insulation or other asbestos products were not contained within walls
- Power plants, nuclear plants, steam plants, electricity plants, power stations, electrical companies, phone companies, utilities
- Military bases and stations
- Oil refineries
- Paper mills
- Chemical, paint and plastic companies
- Gypsum and vermiculite mines and companies
- Insulation manufacturers
- Tire companies, brake companies, automobile manufacturers and mechanics
- General manufacturing companies
- Laboratories
- Farmers, growers, food processing facilities
- Plumbing
- Construction
- Aeronautics
- Fiberglass and glass
- Steel
- Electronics
Asbestos-related Deaths in California
It's only been in the last 30 years or so that there has been an effort to track deaths from mesothelioma in California and nationally. Before that time, mesothelioma was often just lumped in with other types of lung cancers, both in treatment and recording. As knowledge of the disease has increased, so has the effort in keeping accurate records. Between 1979 and 2001, deaths from mesothelioma in California were estimated to be 2276, the highest in the nation.
Even worse, this number is believed to be significantly less than the actual number of victims taken by mesothelioma. This suspicion is based on the fact that when the Centers for Disease Control mandated accurate mesothelioma death reporting in 1999, national mesothelioma deaths nearly doubled.
Where to Get Help
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
California boasts several very large metropolitan areas and prominent medical schools—both advantageous when you are seeking mesothelioma treatment. When contacting a mesothelioma treatment center, be sure to find out whether they only offer traditional mesothelioma treatments (chemotherapy, radiation and surgery), experimental therapies in clinical trials, or both.
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of CA at Irvine
101 The City Drive
Bldg. 23; Route 81
Orange, California 92868
Patient Information: 714-456-8200
Clinical Trial Information: 714-456-6522
City of Hope National Medical Center & Beckman Research Institute
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, California 91010-3000
Patient Information: 800-826-HOPE or (626) 359-8111
Clinical Trial Information: 877-482-HOPE
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA
10833 Le Conte Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90095
Patient Information: 310-825-5268
Clinical Trial Information: 888-798-0719
Rebecca and John Moores UCSD Cancer Center
500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, California 92093
Patient Information: 858-534-7600
Clinical trial Information: 858-657-7020
Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
8700 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 1-800-CEDARS-1 (1-800-233-2771)
The Burnham Institute
10901 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California 92037
Patient Information: 858-646-3100
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
10010 North Torrey Pines Road
La Jolla, California 92037
Patient Information: 858-453-4100
UC Davis Cancer Center
4501 X Street
Sacramento, California 95817
Patient Information: 800-362-5566 or 916-734-5900
University of California at San Francisco
Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
800-888-8664 or 415-885-7777
referral.center@ucsfmedicalcenter.org
University of Southern California
Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
1441 Eastlake Avenue
Los Angeles, California 90033-0804
Patient Information: 800-USC-CARE or 323-865-0816
Clinical Trials: 323-865-0451
California Mesothelioma Lawyer
A California mesothelioma lawyer can help you identify the source of your asbestos exposure, who is responsible, and whether you have enough evidence to take your case to court. If so, they can help you through the legal process as you seek to hold those responsible accountable for their deadly actions.
Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP, is a mesothelioma lawyer firm with experience helping California asbestos victims receive financial compensation:
- One of our clients received $8,419,516.08, after attorney's fees and expenses, because he developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos products during his work as a plumber in California.**
- One of our clients received $3,555,204.16, after attorney's fees and expenses, because he developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos products through his work as a machinist in California.**
- One of our clients received $3,418,159.41, after attorney's fees and expenses, because he developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos products through his work as a laborer in California's underground water and sewer pipe industry.**
- One of our clients received $3,012,397.57, after attorney's fees and expenses, after developing mesothelioma from being exposed to raw asbestos as well as asbestos rope gaskets and packaging while working at a cement plant in Lucerne Valley, California.**
*Case outcome depends on the actual details of your case.
**For a complete list of client recoveries, call 888-632-7574.