History of Asbestos in Mississippi
Bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, like other Gulf States, is home to several natural resources that, during the 20th century, made its workers and even the general public vulnerable to asbestos exposure.
A number of oil rigs are located offshore and there are oil refineries onshore. Asbestos was commonly used in oil facilities as a flame retardant in walls, floors, ceilings, equipment housing and even in employee uniforms.
Its location along the Gulf also made it an economically beneficial state for the production of commercial and government marine vessels. Almost universally, 20th century ships made heavy use of asbestos, again primarily for fireproofing, but also as an insulator of plumbing and electrical systems, among other uses.
In addition, paper mills, power stations, construction and military installations are on the list of asbestos worksites in Mississippi. Nevertheless, since asbestos was so widely used in buildings and consumer appliances, could be carried on the wind, and could be brought home on worker clothing, the probability of developing mesothelioma was not limited to workers in these industries.
Wives of workers, school children, hairdressers, public employees and navy veterans, among others, could have been exposed to deadly asbestos fibers and have developed or be at risk for developing deadly mesothelioma.
Companies at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Below is a list of Mississippi companies believed to have had asbestos present in the workplace environment. This list is meant to be helpful but is not an exhaustive record. If you don't see the company you worked for, but believe you were exposed to asbestos, contact your physician for a mesothelioma screening.
A Mississippi mesothelioma lawyer can also help you investigate whether or not you may have been exposed.
- Allied Paper, Jackson
- Amerada Hess, Purvis
- American Packing, Booneville
- Armstrong Tire & Rubber, Natchez
- Associated Piping & Engineering Co., Gulfport
- Babcock & Wilcox Co., West Point
- Badham Insulation Company, Inc., Pascagoula,
- Baseboard Box Co, Magnolia
- Bechtel Corp.: Pascagoula, Port Gibson
- Big M Aluminum Plant, Batesville
- Buckeye Cellulose, Corinth
- Chevron Oil, Pascagoula
- Chicago Bridge & Iron, Pascagoula
- Clark Seafood Company, Pascagoula
- Coast Shipbuilding, Biloxi
- Coastal Chemical Corp.: Pascagoula, Yazoo City
- Continental Turpentine, Laurel
- Cook Industries, Marks
- Corning Glass, Corning
- Crosby Chemicals, Inc., Picayune
- Day Companies, Waynesboro
- Dupont Chemical, Delisle
- First Chemical Corp,. Pascagoula
- Flintkote: Magnolia, Meridian
- General Electric, Pascagoula
- Georgia-Pacific Corp.: Gloster, Monticello, Taylorsville
- Gulf Oil, Purvis
- H.K. Porter, Moss Point
- Halter Marine, Moss Point
- Hamilton Manufacturing Co., Kosciusko
- Harbison Walker, Bay Springs
- Hercules Chemical Co.: Hattiesburg, Laurel
- Hess Oil & Chemical, Purvis
- Hooker Chemical Plant, Columbus
- Industrial Steel & Machine: Gulfport, Pascagoula
- Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp., Pascagoula
- International Paper Co.: Hitches, Kreole, Moss Point, Natchez, Vicksburg
- International Paper Company, Batesville
- Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, Meridian
- Kimberly Clark, Corinth
- L&N Railroad Gulley Warehouse, Pascagoula
- Laurel Compress Co., Laurel
- Litton Shipyard, Pascagoula
- Magers and Poole, Baldwin
- Mason Electric Co., Laurel
- Masonite Corp., Laurel
- Mid-South Insulation Co.: Greenwood, Jackson
- Mississippi Chemical Corp., Yazoo City
- Mississippi Phosphates, Pascagoula
- Mississippi Power & Light Co.: Cedar, Escatapawa, Greenwood, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Petal, Pascagoula, Vicksburg
- Mississippi Testing Facility Inc., Nicholson
- Morrow Power Plant, Purvis
- Occidental Chemical Corp., Columbus
- Pascagoula Naval Station, Pascagoula
- Pontiac Refinery, Purvis
- Reichold Chemical: Gulfport, Handsboro
- Rittners Industrial Enameling Bay, St. Louis
- Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufacturing Co., Corinth
- Schaupeter Shipyard, Pascagoula
- Shell Oil, Jackson
- Shook & Fletcher Insulation Co., Pascagoula
- South Mississippi Electric, Moselle
- Southbridge Plastic Products Co., Corinth
- Southern Pipe and Supply: Columbus, Tupelo
- Southland Oil Refinery, Sandersville
- Southwest Potash Corp., Vicksburg
- St. Regis Paper Co.: Ferguson, Monticello, Silver Creek
- Standard Oil Company, Pascagoula
- Sun Oil Co., McComb
- Thiokol/Morton Chemical, Moss Point
- Transcontinental Pipeline, Tylertown
- Trunkline Gas Co., Shaw
- U.S. Gypsum, Greenville
- Veterans Administration Hospital, Jackson
- West Point Works, West Point
- Wicht Insulation Company, Hattiesburg
Asbestos-related Deaths in Mississippi
The Environmental Working Group lists 612 asbestos related deaths in Mississippi in the 22 year period between 1979 and 2001; 204 of those deaths were attributed to mesothelioma. These numbers should not be considered comprehensive, however, because the Centers for Disease Control did not mandate mesothelioma reporting until 1999, when mesothelioma numbers doubled, on average, nationwide.
Where to Get Help
A mesothelioma diagnosis requires an urgent need for action on several levels. Decisions about doctors, where to go for treatment, finances and legal options must be made as soon as possible because the nature of the disease is one of rapid progression.
Because the emotional impact of a diagnosis can be crippling, it is important to ask for help from others and take advantage of time saving resources.
While working with Mississippi clients, the mesothelioma lawyers of Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP, have become familiar with a number of resources we hope you find helpful in getting the assistance you need.
Mississippi Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
The state of Mississippi does not have any treatment centers solely dedicated to the treatment of mesothelioma. However, some traditional treatments for the disease, such as chemotherapy and radiation, are typically available at general cancer treatment facilities. In Mississippi, these are:
University of Mississippi Medical Center
350 Woodrow Wilson Drive, Ste 600
Jackson, MS 39213
Phone: (601) 815-6700
Singing River Hospital System
The Regional Cancer Center
2809 Denny Avenue
Pascagoula, MS 39581
228-809-5251
If you are interested in exploring experimental mesothelioma treatment options, we suggest you contact this Alabama facility for more information about clinical trials there and elsewhere:
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1802 Sixth Avenue South, NP 2555
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-3300
205-934-5077
Those responsible for your asbestos exposure knew, or should have known, that asbestos was deadly. Tragically, many companies choose profit over the health of their employees and those who would use their products.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and you live in Mississippi now, or lived or worked in Mississippi when you believe you were exposed to asbestos, it is important that you contact a Mississippi mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible.
The law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after diagnosis. Even if you don't know how you were exposed to asbestos, or heard that the company you believe is responsible has gone bankrupt, you may still have options.
Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP has worked with mesothelioma victims in Mississippi. We have experience with asbestos law in the state and can help you with a number of things such as investigating who may be responsible for your exposure and learning if you have a case. Because we are trial attorneys, you can rest assured that we can represent you through every step of the legal process.
We can also put you in touch with numerous resources that will assist you in finding treatment, helping you and your family cope, and putting your finances in order.
Contacting us is easy. Use our online form or call us directly at 866-632-7574.