Maine Asbestos-Related Deaths from 1999-2017

424
Mesothelioma Deaths
105
Asbestosis Deaths
529
Total Deaths

Asbestos Exposure in Maine

Shipbuilding is a major industry in Maine and is also one of the most dangerous industries for asbestos exposure. Maine also has several paper mills, textile mills, and chemical plants which are known to use asbestos materials. Anyone who has worked in any of these types of facilities may have been exposed to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos can lead to the development of deadly asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

Shipbuilding and Asbestos Exposure

Maine’s coastline made it home to many shipyards. Commercial and military vessels often used asbestos to insulate pipes and boilers. Shipyard workers and shipbuilders were often at a high risk of asbestos exposure. When workers built, maintained, or repaired asbestos-insulated machinery and equipment on ships, asbestos fibers could be disturbed and sent airborne. The close quarters of ships meant inhaling asbestos fibers was likely for anyone in the area. Inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to the development of deadly asbestos diseases.

Asbestos in Buildings

The state also has many older buildings that were constructed prior to the 1970s. These structures were typically built with asbestos-containing materials in insulation, flooring, and roofing materials. Individuals can be exposed to asbestos during repairs or demolition of these old facilities.

Power Plants and Mills with Asbestos

Employees in the state’s power plants and paper mills worked with machinery that was lined with asbestos insulation. Heavy machinery in the paper mills was insulated with asbestos exposing workers to the deadly fibers. Generators, pumps and gaskets in these industrial facilities were also covered in asbestos.

Partial list of work sites in Maine with known asbestos exposure
  • Bangor Air National Guard Base
  • Bath Iron Works
  • Boise Cascade Paper Mill
  • Brunswick Naval Air Station
  • Central Main Steam Plant
  • Dow Air Force Base
  • Great Northern Paper Mill
  • International Paper Mill
  • Loring Air Force Base
  • New England Insulation Company
  • New England Shipyard
  • Oxford Paper Mill
  • Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
  • Rumford Paper Mill
  • Sanford Textile Mill
  • South Portland Shipyard
  • Union Chemicals Company

Statute of Limitations to File Mesothelioma Claim in Maine

There is a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for mesothelioma that varies for each state called the statute of limitations. This means if you do not file within the time limit, you will never be able to pursue legal action or obtain compensation. It’s important that you take legal action within this time frame so you do not miss out on receiving the compensation you may deserve. Contact us here to learn more about how we can help.

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What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a deadly and rare form of malignant cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. The most common forms of mesothelioma are: pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the abdominal cavity.

Victims with pleural mesothelioma may have respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fatigue. Victims with peritoneal mesothelioma may have abdominal swelling, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss.

The latency period for mesothelioma is very long. The average latency period is about 30 years, but can be shorter than 15 years or longer than 40 years. This means individuals with mesothelioma may take decades to present symptoms from the time they were exposed to asbestos.

What is asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos is inhaled the fibers irritate and scar the lining of the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. The lungs become stiff and cannot expand and contract normally. Symptoms of asbestosis are shortness of breath, chest pain, and a dry, persistent cough. Like mesothelioma, the latency period for asbestosis is very long. Symptoms may not present for 10 to 40 years after asbestos exposure.

Military Asbestos Exposure

It is extremely important to know that our attorneys do not sue the military. We seek accountability from the asbestos companies that sold dangerous asbestos products to the military.

Members of all branches of the military may have been exposed to asbestos before it became more restricted in the 1970s. The U.S. military used asbestos products in many areas because of its low cost, durability, and heat resistant properties. The common use of these asbestos products put many U.S. veterans at risk of developing asbestos related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Below is a list of the military branches and common asbestos exposure sites:

  • Navy – shipyards, boiler rooms, submarines
  • Army – barracks, shipyards, construction
  • Marine Corps – armored vehicles, barracks, ships, aircraft
  • Coast Guard – inside ships, ships, boiler rooms
  • Air Force- bases, airplanes, jets, aircraft maintenance