History of Asbestos in Washington
Bordering Canada, Oregon and the Pacific Ocean, Washington offers a number of natural resources that made it susceptible to asbestos in the late 1800s and throughout most of the 1900s.
Home to several mountain ranges, western Washington receives significant rainfall and therefore lumber and paper were two of the state's earliest industries. Paper mills, like other manufacturing plants, create their products using processes, equipment and facilities that involved asbestos.
The state's location along the Pacific also made it attractive for shipbuilding, naval installations, and a good location for oil refineries. Ships carrying crude oil docked in Bremerton and Seattle to offload their supplies, and then the oil was processed in refineries inland. As with paper and other types of manufacturing, oil facilities and refining processes were susceptible to fire and so were heavily fire proofed and insulated with asbestos.
Power plants supplying energy to the state's industrial interests spread throughout the state, and again, their concerns about heat, fire and electricity caused asbestos to be heavily used in nearly every application.
Companies at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
The list of companies or organizations that had asbestos present in their facilities or used it as a matter of business in Washington is too long to list here. Instead, we'll offer a selection representing several industries. This list is by no means complete.
If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to asbestos, contact your physician to discuss your history. Mesothelioma attorneys in Washington can help you investigate where you may have been exposed. They maintain a comprehensive list of companies that have been implicated with asbestos exposure.
- ARCO
- Boeing Aircraft, Tacoma
- Bremerton Naval Shipyard
- Columbia Aluminum
- Columbia Generating Station
- Conoco Oil
- Crown Zellerback
- Duwamish Shipyard
- Fast Flux Test Facility
- Georgia-Pacific
- Hanford Nuclear Site
- Intalco
- Lake Union Drydock
- Lockheed Shipyard
- Marco Shipyard
- Mobil Oil
- Naval Station Everett
- Phillips Oil
- Puget Sound Bridge Yards
- Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
- Scott Paper
- Strategic Weapons Facility
- Tacoma Drydock
- Vancouver Shipyard
- Voyage Repair Station
- W.R. Grace Vermiculite Processing
- Washington Public Power
- Weyerhauser
Asbestos-related Deaths in Washington
The Environmental Working Group reports documented mesothelioma deaths in the state of Washington for the years 1979 – 2001 at 806. This number is considered incomplete due to a variety of factors including the fact that mesothelioma was often more generally called "lung cancer" on death records.
Where to Find Help
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
University of Washington Cancer Consortium
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Avenue North
Seattle, Washington 98109-1024
206-667-4305
Swedish Cancer Institute
Administrative Office
1221 Madison St.
Seattle, WA 98104
800-793-3474
Have you been diagnosed with mesothelioma but don't know how or when you were exposed to asbestos? Do you believe you had a right to know the dangers of what you were being exposed to? Are you worried about how your family will be able to pay your medical bills after you're gone?
These questions and many others are common among mesothelioma victims. Most were unaware of the risk they faced while on the job and feel betrayed by their employer or the companies that supplied the asbestos products they worked with.
Mesothelioma treatment and other expenses and losses resulting from your disease can place a heavy financial burden on your family and tragically, that burden will be there long after you've passed.
Depending on the details of your case, Washington mesothelioma attorneys may be able to help you receive financial compensation to pay for your losses and help your family to have financial security. Additionally, they often are able to help their clients hold those responsible for their pain and suffering accountable for their greedy and negligent actions.
If you are unsure whether or not you need a Washington mesothelioma attorney, or feel that a lawsuit may be more than you can cope with at this difficult time, we encourage you to learn more about your options with a quick, free consultation with a mesothelioma lawyer at Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP. You are under no obligation, but we believe it is important for you to know your options before time takes them away from you.
Call us today at 866-632-7574. We look forward to speaking with you.