Electralloy

The company now known as Electralloy was founded in 1936 as the the G.O. Carlson Company. The steel mill is based in Oil City, Pennsylvania and it produces valves, piping, bearings and other steel based products.

For many of the years this steel mill was in operation, the site featured a variety of products that were made out of asbestos. These items, such as insulation, protective clothing and fire resistant goods benefited from the inclusion of this mineral because it made them stronger, longer lasting and able to hold up under the most extreme temperatures. Tragically, asbestos also made them a serious health hazard.

When asbestos was first discovered in the United States, it was thought to be a miracle material. It was plentiful, easy to obtain and very inexpensive to mine. Before long the mineral was being used to create commodities that would be sold to industrial wok sties, and soon after it would be included in almost every type of product imaginable. At the time no one realized the danger that this mineral held, and most people didn't know about its poisonous nature until the late 1970s. Since it was not known to be a threat, asbestos was generously included as a major ingredient in hundreds of different items for decades.

Although asbestos is a very strong material, when it is handled or moved in any way it can release tiny fibrous particles that will float in the air. People may easily breathe these fibers in without even realizing it because they are too small to be seen and they have no taste. Over time, any of the workers at sites like Electralloy might have ingested large amounts of this mineral, thus introducing a great deal of poison into their respiratory system. This could result in damaged tissue, the development of chronic breathing disorders and the onset of disease, such as the deadly mesothelioma.

Despite how serious asbestos cancer is, it take an exceedingly long time to develop. Victims may not notice any signs of illnesses for years or even decades after they have inhaled the hazardous substance. The lengthy gestation period also means that individuals who worked at locations like this Oil City based facility may still be at risk for mesothelioma cancer long after they stopped working at that site.