Mesothelioma from chemical plants continues to contribute to the nearly 3,000 annual mesothelioma cases in the U.S.
Sadly, this comes as little surprise, given that chemical plants (particularly before 1980) relied heavily on asbestos for insulation, fireproofing, and chemical resistance.
Any chemical plant workers with mesothelioma have the right to compensation, even if the exposure was many decades ago. With the disease’s delayed symptoms becoming apparent decades later, many companies have since gone bankrupt, which may require Asbestos Trust Fund claims.
If you or a loved one has suffered mesothelioma after working in a chemical plant, our mesothelioma attorneys can help.
In this guide, we’ll explain your legal options and the context around mesothelioma in chemical plants.
Why Chemical Plant Workers Face High Mesothelioma Risk
Chemical Plant Asbestos Exposure Was Direct
For anyone exposed to asbestos, there is a risk of later developing mesothelioma (a rare, yet aggressive cancer that forms in the lungs, abdomen, heart, and testicles).
Sadly, for thousands of chemical plant workers, asbestos exposure was often direct.
Asbestos’s chemical inertness made it very valuable to the industry. During the chemical production process, raw asbestos fibers were handled while mixing, added as filler, or used as a reinforcing agent. This meant fibers had a very strong chance of being inhaled in high quantities.
Chemical Companies Overlooked Asbestos Risks
Many companies knew of the health risks, especially during the 1960s to 1970s. Yet they overlooked it, disregarding their employees’ health.
Shockingly, in just 1987, 82.5% of workers exposed to asbestos in chemical plants had related disorders.
This is a defining factor in why victims have the right to compensation. With an attorney’s help, proof can be uncovered that shows the chemical company was negligent and that you deserve compensation.
Mesothelioma Chemical Plant Risks in Today’s World
Although post-1980s regulatory limits have significantly reduced the risk of asbestos exposure in chemical plants, it remains a concern.
Chemical plants with older equipment or buildings may still contain asbestos-containing materials. Many who have worked in these facilities after the 1980s may still face a risk of mesothelioma and be entitled to compensation.
High-Risk Exposure Areas in Chemical Plants
Chemical plant workers with mesothelioma were exposed in high-risk contexts, including the following:
Equipment and Machinery
- Gaskets, valves, pumps, and mixers (where asbestos was used for heat and chemical resistance).
- Reactors and vessels (asbestos insulation).
- Pipes and boilers (asbestos wrapping and lagging).
- Ovens, furnaces, and tanks (asbestos lining).
Building Materials
- Cement, flooring, and ceiling tiles containing asbestos.
- Fireproofing sprays on structural steel.
- Insulation in walls and pipe chases.
Protective Gear and Raw Materials
- Asbestos-coated aprons, gloves, masks.
- Raw asbestos is handled as a production input, a filler, and a reinforcing agent.
- Worn or damaged PPE releasing fibers.
Occupations with Highest Exposure Risk
Certain roles within chemical plants came with increased asbestos exposure risk to, in particular:
- Maintenance crews: Who work with deteriorated insulation or cut and ground asbestos materials.
- Pipefitters and plumbers: Who worked with asbestos pipe wrapping and gasket replacement.
- Welders: Who cut through asbestos-insulated pipes and equipment.
- Chemical engineers and supervisors: Who inspected asbestos-containing equipment and processes.
- Mixers and production workers: Who handled raw asbestos as production input.
- Electricians: Who drilled and cut through asbestos-containing building materials.
- Inventory/warehouse workers: Who moved asbestos-containing products and materials.
- Construction workers: Who built or renovated plant facilities with ACMs.
Bystander Exposure
Workers who never directly handled asbestos but inhaled fibers from nearby operations within their workplace may also later face health issues.
Health Risks and Symptoms of Mesothelioma in Chemical Plants
What is Mesothelioma?
The consequence of asbestos exposure in chemical plants is mesothelioma. It is a cancer of the lining around the lungs and abdomen, called the pleura and peritoneum. It’s often fatal and not curable.
Treatment is available to reduce the severity and impact of the disease, including chemo, surgery, and immunotherapy.
There are around 3,000 new mesothelioma cases in the U.S. every year, and studies confirm a much higher mesothelioma rate among chemical plant workers than in the general population.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
With a symptom latency of around 20 to 50 years, many workers are only receiving diagnoses today.
Its symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- A constant cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking clearly
- A high temperature
- Fatigue
- A loss of appetite or weight, without explanation
Additional Asbestos-Caused Conditions
Asbestos exposure is also behind other serious health concerns, including asbestosis, lung cancer, larynx cancer, ovarian cancer, and pleural disease.
Asbestosis is a progressive lung scarring caused by breathing asbestos fibers, and it is irreversible. Like mesothelioma, it often develops symptoms only 20 to 50 years later.
Secondary Exposure Risk to Families
Mesothelioma claims for family members are available when, sadly, loved ones of chemical plant workers have developed health issues later. This is likely due to fibers brought home on clothing, shoes, tools, bags, and hair.
Spouses who handled the laundry for contaminated clothing were at elevated risk.
Sadly, the consequences can be just as severe as those of any chemical plant worker, leaving family members with a mesothelioma diagnosis decades later. They, too, deserve compensation and can obtain it with the right legal support.
Chemical Companies with Documented Asbestos Use
A large number of companies simply overlooked the known risks of asbestos exposure. They continued to use it for decades, with many failing to take precautions that could minimize toxic work exposure.
These companies have faced many lawsuits, including:
- Allied Chemical Corporation
- Allied Signal Inc.
- American Cyanamid Company
- Borden Chemical Company
- Calabama Chemical Company
- Chapman Chemical Company
- Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
- Chipman Chemical Company Inc.
- Ciba-Geigy Chemical Corporation
- CONDEA Vista Chemical Company
- Diamond Shamrock Chemicals
- Dow Chemical Company
- Du Pont de Nemours & Company (DuPont)
- Durez Plastics
- Dytex Chemical Company
- General Electric Company (GE)
- Georgia-Pacific Corporation
- Harcros Chemical Company
- Hercules Chemical Company
- Hill Brothers Chemical Company
- Hooker Chemical Company
- Houston Refining LP
- Industrial Liquid Chemical Company
- Irwin Chemical Company
- Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation
- LyondellBasell Industries
- Monsanto Chemical Company
- Naugatuck Chemical Company
- Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation
- Pennwalt Ltd.
- Petro Chemical Products
- Portland Gas and Coke Company
- Rhône-Poulenc
- Rogers Corporation
- Rostone Corporation
- Roswell Industrial Air Center
- Shell
- Standard Oil Company
- Stauffer Chemical Company
- T.H. Agriculture & Nutrition L.L.C. (a subsidiary of Harcros Chemical Company)
- Texaco
- Thompson-Hayward Chemical Company
- TPC Group
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Union Chemical Company Inc.
- Uniroyal Holding Inc.
- USI Chemical Company
- USS-POSCO
- W.R. Grace
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Legal and Financial Compensation Options
If you believe you got mesothelioma from a chemical plant, you deserve compensation. There are two key legal routes available: asbestos trust funds and personal injury lawsuits. Pursuing one does not affect the other.
Please note that there are deadlines from the date of your diagnosis that limit when you can make these claims – known as the Statute of Limitations. This is typically 1-3 years, but varies with each state.
Asbestos Trust Funds
If your chemical plant employee or another at-fault party has since gone bankrupt, you may be able to file a claim against an asbestos trust fund.
Asbestos Trust Fund laws were established in the 1980s to ensure funds were secured for future claims by bankrupt manufacturers. Today, there is still around $30 billion available from asbestos trust funds.
You may be able to make multiple asbestos trust funds if you were exposed to many product manufacturers or worked in different chemical plants.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Personal injury lawsuits can be filed against at-fault parties, such as employers, at-fault manufacturers, and asbestos suppliers.
Settlements from these lawsuits typically bring in significantly more than asbestos trust fund claims (on average, around $1m to $2m), but can be made in addition to them.
Proving causation in mesothelioma cases is required, with a link between the negligence of the party and your diagnosis.
Mesothelioma settlements can cover damages including medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering you’ve endured.
Wrongful Death Claims
Surviving family members of deceased workers can file ‘wrongful death claims’.
These claims are made against at-fault parties to cover funeral and burial expenses and provide compensation for the loss of support and companionship to your family.
How Shrader & Associates Helps Chemical Plant Workers
Shrader & Associates specializes in asbestos exposure cases nationwide, including those who suffered mesothelioma from chemical plants.
Our resources, connections, and expertise allow us to uncover evidence that reveals the true levels of your exposure. This approach helps us create a very strong case that brings the maximum possible compensation.
Our experience in the field helps victims determine the optimal legal route, including via multiple trust fund claims or multi-defendant asbestos lawsuits.
We also work on a contingency fee basis, with no upfront costs. This ensures every former chemical plant worker has the opportunity to win the compensation they deserve.
Contact Shrader & Associates Today for a Free Consultation
We invite you to contact our attorneys today for a free consultation. We’ll be happy to hear your story and help explain what legal options are available to you with our no-win, no-fee approach.
Please call 866-262-8170 or contact us online here.
FAQ on Mesothelioma in Chemical Plants
Are chemical plant workers at high risk for mesothelioma?
Yes. Studies show that chemical plants are among the industries most at risk of asbestos exposure. Workers are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma than the general public.
How were chemical plant workers exposed to asbestos?
Chemical plant workers were primarily exposed to asbestos through its use in gaskets, valves, pumps, and mixers (where it was used for its heat and chemical resistance). But, it was also present throughout the plants, even in the insulation in the walls.
Can family members get mesothelioma from chemical plant workers?
Mesothelioma is not contagious, but second-hand exposure is a risk. For example, asbestos fibers could be brought home on clothing, tools, shoes, or hair, and then inhaled by the family member.
How long after chemical plant work does mesothelioma appear?
Mesothelioma symptoms typically appear anywhere between 20 and 50 years after exposure.
Can I file a lawsuit if the chemical plant closed decades ago?
If the plant closed years ago, you can likely file an Asbestos Trust Fund claim. You may also be able to file a lawsuit against other at-fault parties, such as asbestos manufacturers.