What are the causes of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is generally caused by long-term occupational exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous material, and when the fibers are inhaled, they can irritate the mesothelium — the tissue surrounding your heart, lungs, chest cavity and stomach cavity. In many cases, the long-term exposure leads to the creation of malignant cells in the mesothelium that begin to invade the rest of your body.

Where can I be exposed to asbestos?

Asbestos was widely used in construction and manufacturing until the 1970s when the government first began efforts to regulate the use and exposure to asbestos. Since then asbestos is no longer used in construction, but many building and houses still contain asbestos

Primary workplace exposure generally occurred at naval shipyards, power plants, railroad infrastructures and other industrial job sites, as well as in building construction. Anyone who worked at a jobsite with asbestos exposure is at risk of contracting mesothelioma. Asbestos-related exposures have also been diagnosed in families of industrial workers. Workers with asbestos fibers on their clothes inadvertently spread the fibers at home.

Worksites with confirmed asbestos exposure include the following:

Northeastern U.S. shipyards

  • Boston Naval Shipyard (Charlestown, MA)
  • Fore River Shipyard (Quincy, MA)
  • Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Kittery, ME)
  • Bath Shipyard/Bath Iron Works (Bath, ME)
  • Hingham Shipyard (Hingham, MA)
  • Groton Yard (Groton, CT)
  • Newport Naval Shipyard (Newport, RI)

Boston Edison Co.

  • Boston Edison L Street Station (Boston, MA)
  • Boston Edison Edgar Station (Weymouth, MA)
  • Boston Edison Mystic Station (Everett, MA)
  • Boston Edison Plymouth Station (Plymouth, MA)

Big manufacturing sites in western Massachusetts

  • General Electric (Pittsfield, MA)
  • Monsanto (Springfield, MA)

Asbestos spray sites in Massachusetts

  • Charles River Park, Office Building (Boston, MA)
  • New Brockton High School (Brockton, MA)
  • Badger Building (Cambridge, MA)
  • Middlesex County Courthouse (Cambridge, MA)
  • Prudential Tower (Boston, MA)
  • Keystone Building (Boston, MA)
  • Polaroid Building (Waltham, MA)
  • Sachar International Center (Waltham, MA)
  • State Street Project (Quincy, MA)

Boilers: Riley Stoker sites

  • Bucksport Mill (Bucksport, ME)
  • Crane Paper (Dalton, MA)
  • Crocker Burbank Power Company (Fitchburg, MA)
  • Diamond International (Old Towne, ME)
  • Esso Refinery (Everett, MA)
  • Fitchburg Gas Electric Company (Fitchburg, MA)
  • Fitchburg Paper (Fitchburg, MA)
  • General Electric (Pittsfield, MA)
  • General Motors (Framingham, MA)
  • Georgia Pacific Paper Mill (Woodland, ME)
  • Great Northern Paper Company (East Millinocket, ME)
  • Holyoke Gas and Electric (Holyoke, MA)
  • Monsanto Chemical (Everett, MA)
  • Mount Tom Powerhouse aka Holyoke Water Power (Holyoke, MA)
  • New England Power Company – Brayton Point Station (Somerset, MA)
  • New England Power Company – Salem Harbor Station (Salem, MA)
  • Scott Paper (Bucksport, ME)
  • Scott Paper (Hinchley, ME)
  • Scott Paper (Winslow, ME)
  • Uniroyal, Inc./Fiske Tire Plant (Chicopee, MA)
  • University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA)
  • University of Massachusetts – Tillson Farms (Amherst, MA)

Contact a trusted Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyer today

Thornton Law Firm represents clients nationwide. Call for a free consultation and services provided on a contingency-fee basis. If we don’t win your case, you don’t pay. Call us today at 1-888-632-0108  or contact us online.