Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa)

Alcoa History of Asbestos Use

The Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA; Alcoa) was founded in 1886 and is still operating today. Alcoa Inc. was the company’s official name until November 1, 2016. The company then split into two entities: Alcoa Corporation and Arconic Inc.

Alcoa was the first large-scale aluminum producer. It is currently the eighth-largest globally, with facilities in 11 countries. The company has a long history of harmful asbestos use in its aluminum plants and refineries. The mineral served as insulation for furnaces and equipment. It also lined production areas and protected workers from extreme heat.

Alcoa used asbestos insulation to line smelting pots that converted alumina into molten aluminum. Court records show that in the 1950s and 1960s, each pot contained up to 900 pounds of asbestos.

By the 1940s, company executives knew about the health risks of asbestos. But Alcoa continued to use the mineral until government regulations in the 1980s. This exposure put workers and their families at risk for illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Today, the company’s environmental footprint also includes numerous hazardous sites. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has linked seven Superfund sites to Alcoa or its subsidiaries:

• Alcoa Davenport Works in Bettendorf, Iowa
• Alcoa Lavaca Bay Point Comfort Operations in Point Comfort, Texas
• Alcoa North Plant in Alcoa, Tennessee
• Alcoa Properties North Alcoa site in St. Louis, Missouri
• Alcoa Vancouver Smelter in Vancouver, Washington
• Broad Brook Mill in East Windsor, Connecticut
• Olean Well Field Alcoa Asbestos Landfill, Property of Massena Operations in Olean, New York

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Alcoa Asbestos Products

Alcoa did not manufacture asbestos products. However, Alcoa used asbestos-containing materials in many parts of its operations, including:

• Boiler insulation
• Fireproof clothing
• Flanges
• Furnace lining
• Gaskets
• Packing
• Pipe insulation
• Protective gear
• Smelting pots
• Valves

Like many industrial buildings during this time, Alcoa’s plants were also built with asbestos materials. They are incorporated into its walls, floors, ceiling tiles and electrical systems. Several of the company’s facilities have at least one documented instance of asbestos exposure.

The Alcoa plants with known asbestos exposure are located in the following cities:

• Alcoa Badin Works in Badin, North Carolina
• Alcoa Davenport Works in Bettendorf, Iowa
• Alcoa Intalco Smelter in Wenatchee, Washington
• Alcoa North Plant in Alcoa, Tennessee
• Alcoa Vancouver Smelter in Vancouver, Washington

Alcoa and Occupational Exposure

Like many industries, aluminum manufacturers once relied on asbestos. Alcoa used asbestos throughout its refineries and plants to insulate its machinery and buildings. Manufacturing companies often used asbestos because it is durable and heat resistant.

Many employers compromised workforce safety through occupational exposure. People across Alcoa’s workforce may have come into contact with asbestos. Some jobs with a higher risk of exposure include aluminum welders and furnace operators.

As the mineral breaks down, asbestos fibers can be released into the air and inhaled. Once inhaled, these particles can damage the lungs and may lead to asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.

Have a Question About Asbestos Exposure and Alcoa? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Alcoa

Some Alcoa workers were exposed to asbestos on the job and later developed mesothelioma, lung cancer or other related illnesses. Several of these former employees filed lawsuits against Alcoa and received settlements.

Here are some examples of people who received settlements from Alcoa lawsuits:

• $1,871,977 for a 70-year-old ironworker and millwright
• $1,162,433 for a 65-year-old teamster
• $931,705 for a 72-year-old U.S. Coast Guard member and shipyard worker

Alcoa employees who were exposed to asbestos on the job and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness may be eligible to seek compensation. A mesothelioma lawyer can file a claim or handle an asbestos lawsuit.

These workers may also have other avenues for compensation. For instance, employees may still be eligible to file claims against asbestos suppliers to Alcoa, such as Kaiser Aluminum.