Utah Asbestos-Related Deaths from 1999-2017
Mesothelioma Deaths
Asbestosis Deaths
Total Deaths
Asbestos Exposure in Utah
Mining and Asbestos Exposure
Utah’s vast mining industry was a major source of asbestos exposure in the state. Workers in Utah’s asbestos mines were at an extremely high risk of asbestos exposure and could develop asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Utah has several mines where other minerals like calcite, marble, and precious metals were extracted. Asbestos fibers were found in these mines as well. When miners remove the minerals from the earth, asbestos fibers are sent airborne in the close quarters of the mines. Workers can inhale the fibers placing them at risk for developing deadly respiratory illnesses.
Industrial Sites with Asbestos Exposure
Mining is not the only industry that exposed workers to dangerous asbestos fibers. The steel mills, power plants, refineries, and chemical plants in Utah frequently used asbestos as a fire retardant and as an insulator for equipment. When workers operated or repaired equipment insulated with asbestos-containing materials, they had a high risk of inhaling asbestos fibers.
Vermiculite and Asbestos
Utah also had processing facilities that received shipments of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. There was a high risk of asbestos exposure for workers and other employees in these facilities. The processing of the tainted vermiculite often sent asbestos fibers into the air creating a health hazard for those nearby.
- Chevron Refinery
- Gadsby Power Plant
- Hill Air Force Base
- Holy Cross Hospital
- Hunter Power Plant
- IPP Power Plant
- IRS Building
- J.C. Penney Corporation, Inc. Bldg.
- J.C. Penney Store
- Kennecott Copper Smelter
- PacifiCorp
- Phillips 66 Oil Refinery
- Salt Lake City Refinery
- Standard Oil Refinery
- U.S. Steel Mill
- University of Utah
- Utah Canning Plant
- Utah Oil Refinery
- Utah Power & Light Plant
- Utah Power & Light Steam Plant
Statute of Limitations to File Mesothelioma Claim in Utah
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.
Call (855) 280-7664 Get Started OnlineWhat 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