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Alaska Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in Alaska

Alaska Mesothelioma LawyersAlaska has a long industrial history—the state’s top industries include oil and gas, mining, and timber. Unfortunately, these industries and others used asbestos extensively for decades. Even after oil refineries, paper mills, chemical plants, and military bases phased-out asbestos use, workers exposed to asbestos at any point continued to get sick with mesothelioma, a life-threatening cancer, and other serious illnesses. Often, family members of workers were also at risk due to second-hand exposure.

The experienced legal professionals at MesoLawyersCare have successfully recovered money awards for workers and their families who have been harmed by jobsite exposure to asbestos in Alaska and throughout the nation. While individuals can be exposed to asbestos in a number of ways, the following list of worksites in Alaska presented elevated risks for asbestos exposure to workers and their family members.

1. Trans-Alaska Pipeline System – Valdez, AK

The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, known as TAPS, is one of the world’s largest crude oil pipeline systems. In the late 1960s, the largest oil strike in the U.S. was discovered underneath Prudhoe Bay in Northern Alaska—the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline began just a few years later. This crude oil pipeline is privately owned by the Alyeska Pipeline service company. The pipeline carries, on average, 1.8 million barrels of oil a day and has 11 pump stations along the hundreds of miles of pipeline. Asbestos-containing materials are known to have been present at these pump stations. Asbestos was used in building materials and components of the pipeline equipment such as gaskets. Whenever equipment maintenance or repair occurred, there was potential to disturb deteriorating asbestos, causing the particles to become airborne. Airborne asbestos particles put workers at risk of dangerous levels of asbestos exposure which led to serious illnesses including mesothelioma.

2. Collier Carbon and Chemical – Kenia, AK

Collier Carbon and Chemical Plant is a large chemical plant built on the Kenai Peninsula. The plant was built to take advantage of the natural gas reserves in the state. Collier Carbon and Chemical produced chemicals including urea and ammonia and fertilizers. As with other chemical plants built during much of the 20th century, the Collier Carbon and Chemical facility used asbestos-containing materials for a variety of purposes at the plant. Asbestos was used to insulate dryers, pumps, ovens, boilers, furnaces and even pipes. Employees working at the plant were also exposed to asbestos while wearing asbestos containing protective clothing such as masks, jackets, and pants. This also put family members of workers at risk as they were exposed to asbestos simply by living in the same home as a Collier Carbon and Chemical plant workers or laundering the dusty work clothing.

3. Ketchikan Pulp Company – Ketchikan, AK

Located on the banks of Ward Cove, the Ketchikan Pulp Company was a large paper mill. The mill opened in 1954 and was the main economic source for the area for over 40 years—in fact, the mill was part of a U.S. Forest Service program for economic development in the Southeast area of Alaska. Among other products, the mill produced “Tongacell” which was used to manufacture rayon products. The mill finally closed its doors in 1997. Workers at the Ketchikan Pulp Company paper mill are at risk for developing mesothelioma and other serious illnesses due to their continued worksite exposure to asbestos. Paper mills, like Ketchikan Pulp Company, used substantial amounts of asbestos for insulation and sealants for boilers and other machinery because of the high heat generated in the manufacturing process.

4. Sitka Pulp Mill – Sitka, AK

The Sitka Pulp Mill, like the Ketchikan Pulp Company, was also part of a U.S. Forest Service economic development program. The papermill was opened in 1959. Initially, the main purpose of the mill was to produce rayon fabric but also to supply logs to Japan in their rebuilding efforts after World War II. In later years and until its closure in 1993, the mill primarily manufactured paper. Sitka Pulp Mill also used massive amounts of asbestos containing materials primarily because of the need to insulate and seal high-heat machinery used in the paper manufacturing process. Workers at the Sitka Pulp Mill who worked near or repaired this machinery are at increased risk of exposure. Because the effects of asbestos can take years to manifest, employees of the old Sitka Pulp Mill may still be at risk for the development of an asbestos-related illness.

5. Eielson Air Force Base – Fairbanks, AK

Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks became operational in 1943, just before the United States entered World War II. Over the years, the base has been home to several different fighter groups and equipped with many different airplanes. The base is currently home to the 354th Fighter Wing that implements flying operations, mission support, maintenance and medical care functions. Throughout the 20th Century, it was very common to build military planes with asbestos-containing materials that were used in gasket materials, clamps, and brakes, and other aircraft parts. As planes became worn down, military personnel including mechanics and maintenance workers were prone to exposure to dust from new and worn asbestos-containing aircraft parts and thus have an elevated risk for developing mesothelioma.

The attorneys from MesoLawyersCare have recovered more than $10 billion dollars for people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Our firms have successfully represented workers and families exposed to asbestos at worksites throughout Alaska. For more information or a free consultation, fill out the form on this page, have a live chat now with one of our representatives, or call us today.

 

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Did You Know?

  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The highest award of compensatory damages ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $30.3 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The largest punitive damages verdict ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $18 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are more than 50 bankruptcy trusts accepting claims to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are many “asbestos dockets” that permit living mesothelioma patients to obtain a jury verdict in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, more than 2000 mesothelioma cases were filed in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In some mesothelioma cases, settlements can be obtained in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Thousands of different companies have been defendants in mesothelioma cases over the past 40 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 75.7 months, or over 6 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 73.8% were living after 3 years, and 65.3% were living after 5 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 64% were treated with HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 303 pleural mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 18.4 months.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of pleural mesothelioma patients, 73.1% were still living after 1 year, and 22.9% were still living after 3 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, the largest number of mesothelioma cases were filed in the following 10 courts: (1) Madison County, IL; (2) Cook County, IL; (3) St. Louis, MO; (4) Los Angeles, CA; (5) New York, NY; (6) Philadelphia, PA; (7) New Castle County, DE; (8) Middlesex County, MA; (9)Middlesex County, NJ; (10) Kanawha County, WV.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The states with the largest number of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are: New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are about 3000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 1 in 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 22% of all mesothelioma cases occur in women.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the United States were exposed to asbestos in the military.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by laundering, or other household contact with, work clothing contaminated with asbestos.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by work with (direct exposure) or around (bystander exposure) asbestos-containing products.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
 

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Contact MesoLawyersCare Now

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact us to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve from the billions of dollars in asbestos trust funds available now for qualified asbestos victims. With just one call, you can put all our experience and success to work for you.

We have represented thousands of victims of mesothelioma and their families in virtually every State in the country and in decades of work have recovered billions of dollars in financial compensation for our clients.

Call us now at 1-888-568-1177, fill out the form on this page or chat with a live person. The consultation is free and it costs nothing upfront to hire the lawyers behind MesoLawyersCare. We only get paid if you collect a settlement or verdict and you will never receive a bill from us.

 
 

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