Rough Sailing for Asbestos–Exposed Workers and even Residents at Portland Shipyard

May 12th, 2010. By janem

If you ever worked at the Portland Shipyard in Oregon or even lived closeby, you-and potentially family members– may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos and could be at risk for asbestos disease, including asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Close to 200 US shipyards are known for asbestos exposure, including Portland Shipyard, which was originally created in 1903 and known as the largest commercial and publicly run shipyard within the US.

Those who worked at the shipyards and face the greatest risk of asbestos exposure include plumbers and insulators who worked with boilers, steam pipes, hot water pipes, and incinerators; longshoremen and military personnel. And even residents near Portland Ship Repair, which is owned and operated by Cascade General.

Portland Harbor is designated a ‘Superfund’ site because the surrounding environment contains high levels of dangerous contaminants, mainly due to the Portland Shipyard Repair. A Superfund Site puts area residents at risk for disease and the loss of property value due to environmental damage. The harbor is also designated for significant cleanup and to offer protection to those individuals that may suffer from related disease such as asbestosis, and/or a large loss of value in their homes. Asbestos was found at significant levels in the area.

Although Cascade has taken steps to clean up its act and make sure no further pollution and hazardous materials are released into the area’s environment, they can’t repair the damage caused since the 1940s or even earlier. Shipyard workers before 1980 were heavily exposed to asbestos, particularly during World War II when thousands of ships were being built at lightening speed to support the war effort. Portland Shipyard opened in 1942, when they began to build Liberty ships. Portland ran its own facility until 1995, when Cascade General took it over.

According to a recent study by the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 86 percent of the shipyard workers tested with 20+ years of work experience had developed some kind of asbestos-related lung cancer or disease. Before the 1980s, workers rarely used protective gear and clothing when surrounded by asbestos and other dangerous toxins. Most people were unaware that asbestos was harmful because it was kept on the QT by manufacturers, corporations and insurance companies until the late 1970s.

If the war didn’t kill them, asbestos might.

 

 

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma

This was posted on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 2:09 pm and is filed under Asbestos Mesothelioma, Personal Injury . Feel free to respond, or trackback. Read our comments policy.