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Florida Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in Florida

Florida Asbestos and Mesothelioma ExposureAsbestos exposure was quite common in Florida and across the country, since the fibrous mineral was used in heavy industry and in the construction of buildings throughout much of the 20th century. Typically, workers exposed to asbestos on a regular basis – such as those working in power plants or shipyards – were at the highest risk of developing mesothelioma, a deadly disease affecting the linings of the internal organs. In fact, Florida has the second-highest rate of asbestos-related deaths in the United States. But since mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses take decades to present symptoms in many people, people exposed long after initial exposure may not even know they’re at risk.

MesoLawyersCare attorneys understand the risk factors and have been able to recover significant cash awards for workers and family members who have been injured (often fatally) by asbestos exposure throughout the Sunshine State. Some of the more prominent Florida job sites with high levels of asbestos exposure are discussed below.
 

1. Port Everglades Power Plant

The Port Everglades Power Plant in Fort Lauderdale opened for operation in 1960 and demolished in 2013. The oil-burning power plant was replaced with a natural gas-burning power plant (by the same name) in 2016. As with other power plants built before the 1980s – when asbestos began to be phased-out and companies started facing lawsuits – the Port Everglades plant was riddled with asbestos. The naturally occurring, fibrous material was used primarily as insulation from excessive heat, as gasket and packing materials used throughout the plant, and for fireproofing Asbestos was even sometimes used in the protective gear worn by workers. In addition to those who constructed and worked at the former plant and their family members who may have been exposed, demolition workers also may have been exposed (although stricter safety precautions were often used in demolition work occurring in later years).
 

2. Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station

The Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station near Homestead is a twin reactor nuclear power plant serving much of South Florida and the largest power plant in the state. Construction on the plant began in 1967 and it went online in 1972 and 1973 (the second of two units). In addition to the nuclear reactors, the plant has fossil fuel-fired generator units where asbestos-based insulation was widely used in order to protect workers from extreme heat. As in other power plants, workers who were regularly exposed to asbestos insulation, gaskets, packing, piping, equipment, and protective gear are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
 

3. Naval Station Mayport

One of three major Navy facilities in Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport is both a seaport and an air facility with the capacity for up to 34 ships and an 8,000-foot runway for aircraft. The station was built in 1942 to help with the war effort and closed after the war ended, but then was reestablished and expanded by the U.S. Navy in 1948 (becoming the third-largest naval base in the U.S.). The Naval Station is currently home to more than 14,000 military personnel. Prior new safety guidelines implemented in the 1970s, ships used a substantial amount of asbestos in order to resist heat and allow for optimal functioning of the high-heat equipment used to power the ships. The material was used in boilers, turbines, engines, pumps, valves, blower, gaskets, packing and insulation for steam pipes. Workers and enlisted military service members in the vicinity were often exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos.
 

4. Naval Air Station Pensacola

Built in 1913, Naval Air Station Pensacola serves as the initial primary training base for U.S. Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard officers and is home to the famous Blue Angels Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron. The site has an even richer history, having been occupied by the Spanish in the 1500s, the French in the early 1700s, and Great Britain in the 1760s (finally to be taken over by the United States during the War of 1812). The facility also has a history of shipbuilding and has served as a base for aircraft carriers. While its use has since been phased out, asbestos was once a major component of ships and other facilities where excessive heat was generated by power equipment. Anyone who worked or trained at the site before safety upgrades were made in the 1980s may have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos. While safety upgrades were made in the 1980s, it is still possible to have gotten sick after those upgrades as large-scale asbestos removal is extremely difficult and exposure still can take place. Also, certain asbestos materials remained in place at this job site and asbestos exposures would have occurred when this dangerous material was disturbed by workers.
 

5. Nitram Inc.

Nitram Inc. operated a chemical plant in Tampa beginning in 1962, where it produced primarily ammonium nitrate for use in high-nitrogen fertilizers. Since the chemical compound also is used in explosives and is highly combustible, the plant (which was the third-largest ammonium nitrate producer in the country) once used substantial amounts of asbestos to protect workers and the facilities. It is also designated as a Superfund Site by the Environmental Protection Agency after years of toxic waste contamination. Workers were exposed to asbestos as the facilities aged and the fibers were disturbed and dusty and thus easily inhaled.
The skilled attorneys of MesoLawyersCare have recovered more than $10 billion for people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Our firm has successfully represented workers exposed to asbestos in Florida and/or residing in Florida, as well as workers throughout the United States. 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 our offices.
 

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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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