Michigan Asbestos Risk & Exposure
Workers in many Michigan industries where asbestos was widely used are at risk for asbestos exposure and related health conditions. Asbestos exposure limits had existed by federal mandate since the 1970s and 1980s when it was classified as a deadly carcinogen. However, asbestos has been used in products and industrial processes since its introduction in the U.S. in the 1930s. Mesothelioma usually does not manifest for 20-50 years after exposure and must be detected early and treated aggressively, or it can lead to death.
Asbestos-containing material is not considered harmful unless it releases dust or fibers into the air. Fibers can be inhaled or ingested, then trapped in the body and cause illness. Three diseases associated with asbestos exposure are:
- Asbestosis – a severe, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease.
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma – cancer in the cells lining the sacs in the chest or the body’s abdominal area and organs.
Asbestos-Related Deaths in Michigan
Michigan State University Department of Medicine started a tracking program that included all work-related lung diseases. Hospitalizations with asbestosis have decreased since 2009. Counties with the most significant number of asbestos-related cases in Michigan in 2015 were: Wayne, Saginaw, Bay, and Oakland.
- Asbestos-related deaths (1999-2017): 10,188
- Asbestosis: 654
- Mesothelioma: 1,915
- Estimated Non-mesothelioma Lung Cancer: 7,660
Michigan Industries that Used Asbestos
Vermiculite
A public health consultation for the W.R. Grace/Zonolite Company in Dearborn, Michigan, focused on ways people may be exposed to asbestos from vermiculite processed at this site from the 1950s to 1989. The facility expanded vermiculite processing into manufacture attic insulation (sold as ‘Zonolite’). Vermiculite is a mineral naturally composed of shiny stone flakes like mica. Unfortunately, vermiculite can be contaminated with asbestos and many products like Zonolite contained the deadly carcinogen,
Automobile
Michigan is known as a motor vehicle manufacturing center, with Detroit as the epicenter of the automotive industry in the U.S. Automobile plants are asbestos-heavy industries that represent most of the asbestos exposure sites in Michigan. Ford and other Michigan car manufacturers like General Motors, Chrysler, Plymouth, and the Continental Motor Company, exposed employees to asbestos in brake pads, clutches, and gaskets.
Steel
Michigan Steel Foundry, National Steel, the Great Lakes Steel Mill, and the Detroit Gray Iron Foundry may have exposed hard-working men and women to asbestos daily. Asbestos was used in steel mills as an insulation material from the 1940s through the 1970s. Workers were exposed to this material while performing their daily tasks.
Shipbuilding
Michigan has an extensive inland coastline with deep inland waters that provides space for shipbuilding. Many shipyards used asbestos in the manufacturing process and was especially rampant during wartime when naval ships and submarines were rapidly built. Decades later, many of those workers developed lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Power Plants
Power generating facilities used asbestos insulation spray in the buildings that housed the equipment, on the actual machinery that generated electricity, and the electrical wiring due to enormous amounts of heat generated from burning coal and natural gas. Facilities like Central Michigan Light and Power Company exposed workers to the substance. Nuclear plants, including Cook Nuclear Power Plant and Bridgeman Nuclear Plant, have used asbestos heavily.
Oil Refineries
Michigan has several oil refineries and distribution hubs that use asbestos to prevent or contain fires due to the volatile nature of the fuel. Asbestos was used to insulate pipes, pipelines, and equipment that operated at high temperatures. Protective clothing was made with asbestos fibers. Some oil companies exposed Michigan workers including, the Citron Oil Company, Consolidated Oil, Marathon Oil, and Marysville’s synthetic liquid gas plant.
Michigan’s Statute of Limitation to File a Mesothelioma Claim
You could file a lawsuit to help recover medical costs, lost wages, and damages if you developed an asbestos-related disease due to asbestos exposure. Each state has a time limit to file from time diagnosed or time of death called a statute of limitations. Michigan’s statute of limitations is three years after the cause of action accrues or the date the plaintiff knew the diagnosis.
It is difficult for all families when you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis. While legal action against those responsible may not be something you want to do yet, you should speak with an experienced asbestos attorney regarding your options. Contact Goldberg, Persky & White today for a free case review.
