Nebraska Asbestos-Related Deaths from 1999-2017

287
Mesothelioma Deaths
51
Asbestosis Deaths
338
Total Deaths

Asbestos Exposure in Nebraska

Power plants and other manufacturing plants are the sources of the majority of asbestos exposure in Nebraska. Workers who repaired or worked with machinery insulated with asbestos may have inhaled the toxic fibers. Employees of Nebraska power plants may have disturbed the fibers from pipes, boilers and other equipment sending them airborne. When asbestos fibers are airborne they can be inhaled, creating a serious health hazard for anyone nearby.

Vermiculite and Asbestos

The former W.R. Grace vermiculite plant in Nebraska where asbestos-contaminated vermiculite was processed is another major source of asbestos exposure in the state. Workers at the plant in Omaha frequently handled asbestos and asbestos waste leading to potential exposure when the fibers became airborne.

Manufacturing and Asbestos Exposure

Western Mineral Products manufactured insulation and concrete. Its products were made with the contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana. From the 1960s to 1980s, the facility processed thousands of tons of the contaminated vermiculite. The area is now safe from asbestos contamination, however, former employees of Western Mineral Products were likely exposed to asbestos while working in the facility. These individuals are at risk of developing deadly asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Partial list of work sites in Nebraska with known asbestos exposure
  • Allied Chemical Plant in Omaha
  • Bellevue Steam Plant
  • Dana Chrome Plating plant in Hastings
  • DPC Chemical Plant in Bellevue
  • Farmland Industries Chemical Plant in Hastings
  • Fel-Tex Chemical Plant in Fremont
  • Hallam Steam Plant
  • Helena Chemical Plant in Fremont
  • Interstate Chemical Plant in Fremont
  • Iowa-Nebraska gas plant in Norfolk
  • Lindsay Irrigation Equipment Factory
  • Mutual of Omaha Building
  • Naval Ammunition Depot in Hastings
  • Nebraska Ordnance army ammunition plant in Mead
  • Nebraska Solvents Plant in Grand Island
  • North Omaha Steam Plant
  • Omaha Country Club
  • Phillips Chemical Plant in Beatrice
  • Red Cloud Junior High School
  • Red Cloud Senior High School
  • Sherwood Medical Equipment Plant in Norfolk
  • Anthony’s Church
  • Union Pacific Railroad Yard
  • University of Nebraska
  • Veterans’ Administration Hospital
  • Western Mineral Products vermiculite exfoliation plant in Omaha

Statute of Limitations to File Mesothelioma Claim in Nebraska

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