History of Asbestos in West Virginia
Coal mining has long been a top industry in West Virginia's economy. While coal miners in the state face a number of health issues including black lung, asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma have not typically shown up among coal miners.
Asbestos often is present in mines for other minerals and ores such as iron and vermiculite. As the rock is disturbed, asbestos is released into the air as well as contaminating the product being mined and communities surrounding the mines. Thankfully, at this point, no asbestos has been found to contaminate West Virginia's coal mines.
Asbestos-related industries in the state include oil, power plants, manufacturing and construction, among others. From the late 1800s and throughout the 1900s, these industries made widespread use of asbestos and asbestos products for insulation, fire proofing, protection from heat and electricity and as ingredients in products or processes, among numerous other uses.
Companies with Potential Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was virtually everywhere in the 20th century. Most buildings, schools, hospitals and homes built before 1985 contained the substance. It was also present in automobiles, home appliances and even in flame retardant clothing and uniforms.
These companies/organizations, among others, are believed to have had asbestos present where workers or even the general public could have breathed in its microscopic fibers and be at risk for developing mesothelioma or other asbestos disease.
- A & I COMPANY
- ACANDS, INC.
- ACF INDUSTRIES
- ADALINE COMPRESSOR STATION
- ALLEGHENY ENERGY
- ALLEGHENY VEENER PLANT
- ALLIED CHEMICAL & DYE CORP.
- ALLIED SERVICES INCORPORATED
- AMERICAN CAR
- AMERICAN CYANAMID
- AMERICAN VISCOSE RAYON PLANT - FMC
- AMHERST INDUSTRIES, INC.
- AMOS POWER PLANT
- AMSTAN CORPORATION
- ANALINE CHEMICAL
- ANAWHA CTY
- APPALACHIAN POWER CO.
- ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY
- ASBESTOS SERVICE COMPANY
- ASHLAND OIL & REFINERY CO.
- ATLAS STORAGE WAREHOUSE
- B. F. GOODRICH
- BALDWIN SUPPLY COMPANY
- BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD CO.
- BARHARD & WETZEL BLOCK COMPANY
- BECKLEY MINING ACADEMY
- BECKLEY NATIONAL BANK
- BEECH BOTTOM POWER CO
- BLAW KNOX FOUNDRY
- BLENKO GLASS COMPANY
- BLOCH BROTHERS TOBACCO COMPANY
- BROCKWAY GLASS COMPANY
- BUREAU OF MINES
- C & P TELEPHONE BLDG
- CABIN CREEK POWER PLANTG
- CABOT CORP
- CAPTINA OPERATING CO - KAMMER PLANT
- CARBIDE & CARBON CHEMICALS CORP.
- CARBORUNDUM METALS CO.
- CELANESE CORPORATION OF AMERICA
- CELOTEX CORPORATION
- CENTRAL OPERATING COMPANY
- CENTRAL VALLEY INSULATION CO. N
- CENTURIAL PRODUCTS
- CHARLESTON GENERAL HOSPITAL
- CHARLESTON NATIONAL PLAZA
- CHESAPEAKE & OHIO RAILWAY CO
- CHESAPEAKE & POTOMAC TELEPHONE CO
- CHLOR ALLIED DIVISION
- COLUMBIA GAS TRANSMISSION CORPORATION
- COLUMBIA SOUTHERN CHEMICAL CORP.
- CONNORS STEEL
- CONSOLIDATED COAL CO
- CONTINENTAL CAN
- CORNING GLASS WORKS
- CSX TRANSPORTATION
- CYTEC INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
- DANCO INCORPORATED
- DANIEL BOONE HOTEL
- DAVIS LYNCH GLASS STAR CITY WV
- DUNBAR GLASS
- DUPONT CHEMICAL
- E. C. ERNEST ELECTRIC COMPANY
- E. I. DUPONT DE NEMOURS & CO.
- ENTERPRISE-BLACK DIAMOND CORPORATION
- EQUITABLE RESOURCES, INC.
- ERGON-WEST VIRGINIA
- FIRST NATIONAL BANK
- FMC CORPORATION
- FMC CORPORATION
- FMC ORGANIC
- FOOD MACHINERY CORP.
- FORT MARTIN POWER STATION
- FOSTORIA GLASS COMPANY
- GARVIN'S JERSEY FARMS, INC.
- GAVENS POWERHOUSE
- GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION
- GIRDLER CORP
- GLASGOW POWERHOUSE
- GOODRICH GULF CHEMICAL CO. INSTITUTE
- GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO
- GRANT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
- GREENBRIER HOTEL - BOILER PLANT
- GREENBRIER INSTRUMENTS, INCORPORATED
- HALLTOWN PAPER BOARD COMPANY
- HARRISON POWER PLANT
- HASTINGS COMPANY
- HINTON SANITARY
- HOECHST CELANESE
- HOPE NATURAL GAS COMPANY
- HUDSON PAPER COMPANY
- HUNTINGTON ALLOYS - INCO ALLOYS
- INTERNATIONAL NICKEL CO.
- J. F. PRITCHARD & COMPANY
- JOHN AMOS POWERHOUSE
- KAISER ALUMINUM & CHEMICAL
- KEENE CORP - PENN METAL DIV
- KEENE CORPORATION
- KENTUCKY POWER
- KENTUCKY UTILITIES CO
- KEWAUNEE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- KOPPERS COMPANY, INC.
- L AIR LIQUIDE - MOBAY CHEMICAL CO.
- LIBBEY OWENS FORD GLASS CO.
- LINDE AIR PRODUCTS CO.
- MAGNOLIA HIGH SCHOOL
- MANVILLE POWERHOUSE
- MARIETTA MANUFACTURING POINT
- MATHIESON CHEMICAL CORP.
- MITCHEL POWER STATION
- MOBAY CHEMICAL CO.
- MONONGAHELA POWER CO.
- MONSANTO CHEMICAL COMPANY
- MOREHEAD STATE COLLEGE
- MORGANTOWN MEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER
- MOUNDSVILLE POWERHOUSE
- MOUNT STORM POWER COMPANY
- MOUNTAIN STATE STEEL CASTINGS FOUNDRY
- MOUNTAINEER POWERHOUSE
- NATIONAL BOTTLE
- NATIONAL STEEL
- NOVAMONT CORPORATION NEAL
- OHIO POWER CO .
- OHIO VALLEY INSULATING COMPANY, INC.
- OLIN MATHIESON CHEMICAL CORP.
- ORDNANCE WORKS DISPOSAL AREAS
- OWENS CORNING FIBERGLASS
- OWENS CORNING FIBERGLASS
- OWENS ILLINOIS GLASS COMPANY
- PHILIP SPORN
- PHILIP SPORN
- PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS CO
- PLEASANTS POWERHOUSE
- POINT BEACH NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- PORT AMHERST
- POTOMAC RIVER CONSTRUCTION
- PPG INDUSTRIES
- PURE OIL COMPANY
- QUAKER STATE CORPORATION
- RAVENS METAL PRODUCTS
- SAINT-GOBAIN ADVANCED CERAMICS CORP.
- SHARON STEEL
- SHELL CHEMICAL
- SHELL OIL COMPANY
- SISTERSVILLE TANK WORKS, INC.
- SOLVAY CHEMICAL COMPANY
- SOUTHEASTERN CONSTRUCTION CO.
- ST. JOSEPH LEAD WORKS
- STERLING FAUCET
- STONE & WEBSTER ENG. CORP. -
- STUART-MCMUNN COMPANY
- T & L SUPPLY, INC.
- TECH RESEARCH CTR OLEFINS LAB
- TRIANGLE CONDUIT & CABLE CO., INC.
- U. S. BUREAU OF MINES
- U. S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
- UCC
- UNION BOILER
- UNION CARBIDE
- UNION PROTESTANT HOSPITAL
- UNITED FUEL GAS CO - COCO COMPRESSOR
- UNITED MINE WORKERS HOSPITAL
- UNIVERSAL GLASS
- VIRGINIA ELECTRIC & POWER CO
- WASHINGTON WORKS
- WEIRTON STEEL
- WEST SIDING
- WEST VIRGINIA PULP & PAPER
- WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
- WESTERN ELECTRIC CO.
- WESTERN MARYLAND RAILROAD
- WESTINGHOUSE
- WESTVACO CHEMICAL
- WHEELING COLLEGE
- WHEELING JESUIT UNIVERSITY, INC.
- WHEELING PITTSBURGH STEEL
- WILL ISLAND CREDAMINE CHEMICAL
- WILL ISLAND POWER PLANT
Asbestos-related Deaths in West Virginia
For many years, mesothelioma deaths were not required to be recorded on death certificates. Quite often, "lung cancer" was stated as the cause of death. However, in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control mandated accurate mesothelioma reporting.
From 1979 – 2001, the Environmental Working Group cites mesothelioma deaths in West Virginia at 184. It is safe to assume the numbers were higher than that based on reporting inaccuracies.
Where to Find Help
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
Cancer Care Center of Southern West Virginia
3200 MacCorkle Ave SE
Charleston, WV 25304
304-388-9413
Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center Clinic
One Medical Center Drive
Health Sciences Center
PO Box 8110
Morgantown, WV 26506-8110
304-293-4500 or
877-427-2894
Wheeling Hospital
Schiffler Cancer Center
1 Medical Park
Wheeling, West Virginia 26003
Radiation Oncology Division: 304-243-3490
Medical Oncology Division: 304-243-6442
Did you know that West Virginia sets a statute of limitations on the time you have to file a mesothelioma lawsuit? If you or a family member has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have put seeking a West Virginia mesothelioma attorney on the backburner as you pursue treatment.
You may be unsure as to whether you want to purse legal action against those that have brought such pain to your family. You may not be certain that your case will hold up in court, or you may not want to be burdened with a lawsuit during this difficult time.
All of these doubts are understandable. Unfortunately, in many places, the law requires you to act promptly or miss your opportunity altogether. So even in this challenging time, it may be in your best interest to at least contact a West Virginia mesothelioma attorney to discuss your case and your legal options for financial compensation—before it is too late.
Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP have experience helping West Virginia mesothelioma victims. You can contact us a for a free, no obligation consultation; because we work on a contingency basis, you do not have to pay us anything until we win your case. Call today 866-632-7574.