Mobil Oil Corporation (ExxonMobil)
Mobil Oil Corporation used asbestos in refineries, ships and boilers, exposing countless workers and their families. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma and other diseases. Many have sued the company, now called ExxonMobil, winning millions in settlements and verdicts.
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Mobil Oil History of Asbestos Use
Mobil Oil Corporation used asbestos in its products, oil refineries, ships and equipment, exposing workers to harmful fibers. Because asbestos is resistant to heat, it was commonly used in insulation, boiler rooms and industrial machinery. As a result, many Mobil Oil workers faced long-term health risks, including mesothelioma.
Known as ExxonMobil today, the company started as Standard Oil Company, founded by John D. Rockefeller in 1870. By the early 1900s, Standard Oil controlled much of the U.S. oil industry. In 1911, the Supreme Court ruled that the company had engaged in monopolistic practices, including price-fixing and trade restraints, and ordered it to be broken into 34 smaller companies. One of these, Standard Oil Company of New York, eventually became Mobil Oil Corporation in 1966.
The company thrived in the second half of the 20th century, advancing engine lubricants, deep-sea drilling and gasoline production. In 1999, Exxon and Mobil, both former Standard Oil companies, merged to form ExxonMobil.
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Mobil Oil Asbestos Products
ExxonMobil and its predecessors produced and used a range of asbestos products, from bonding agents to construction materials. One example was the Dum Dum product line, which included adhesives and cements. The company faced a $16 million lawsuit over its use of asbestos in these products.
Some of its products had to withstand high temperatures. For example, the Hi-Heat Dum Dum, a plastic coating used to seal joints on boilers and furnaces, contained asbestos for its heat-resistant properties. Other products had to be durable, flexible and/or water-resistant — qualities that made asbestos a common ingredient in Mobil’s manufacturing.
| Product Name | Start Year | End Year |
|---|---|---|
| Bondex “Stays White” Mobile Home Roof Coating | 1972 | 1981 |
| Bondex Mobil Home Aluminum Roof Coating | ||
| Mobil Oil Armorcote Adhesive | 1964 | 1973 |
| Mobil Oil Armorcote Cement | 1964 | 1973 |
| Mobil Oil Dum-Dum Adhesive | 1964 | 1973 |
| Mobil Oil Dum-Dum Caulk | 1964 | 1973 |
| Mobil Oil Dum-Dum Cement | 1964 | 1973 |
| Mobil Oil Dum-Dum Masonic Adhesive | 1964 | 1973 |
| Mobil Oil Dum-Dum Masonic Cement | 1964 | 1979 |
| Mobil Oil Dum-Dum Nail Hole | 1964 | 1973 |
| Uniroyal B.F. Goodrich Automobile Brakes | 1940 | 1985 |
Mobil Oil and Occupational Exposure
The oil industry used asbestos in many ways. This often put workers at risk of occupational exposure. Mobil Oil Corporation used asbestos-containing products in gaskets, insulation and sealants. This affected many workers, including those in boiler rooms and oil refineries. Being around asbestos can lead to serious diseases, like mesothelioma.
Workers’ families were also at risk. Asbestos fibers can stick to clothing, spreading the dangers of this mineral to loved ones at home. This is called secondary asbestos exposure and can also cause mesothelioma and other illnesses.
- Aluminum plant workers
- Boilermakers
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Industrial plant workers
- Machinists
- Maintenance workers
- Mechanics
- Millwrights
- Navy veterans
- Oil refinery workers
- Paper factory workers
- Pipefitters
- Power plant workers
- Shipbuilders
- Shipyard workers
- Steamfitters
- Steel workers
- Welders
Asbestos Lawsuits Against Mobil Oil
ExxonMobil has faced many asbestos lawsuits because its predecessor companies, including Mobil Oil Corporation and Exxon, used the dangerous mineral. Here are a few case outcomes:
- Virginia Ship Fitter: A ship fitter repaired over a dozen Exxon oil tankers in the 1960s and 1970s. He later developed mesothelioma and sued ExxonMobil in 2009 at age 72. He won $17.5 million in 2011.
- New Jersey Electrician & His Wife: An electrician at an Exxon oil refinery in the 1970s and 1980s unknowingly brought home asbestos fibers on his clothes. His wife, who also worked at the refinery, developed malignant peritoneal mesothelioma from direct and secondary exposure. She was awarded $7 million, and her husband received an additional $500,000 in 2008.
- Washington Foreman: In 1979, a contract worker was hired to remove asbestos-containing insulation at ExxonMobil’s Ferndale refinery. He and his team lacked proper safety precautions and were unaware of the full dangers of asbestos exposure. He later developed mesothelioma and passed away in 2015. His family sued ExxonMobil in 2018, and in 2023, the Washington Supreme Court upheld a $4 million verdict in their favor.
Lawsuits are only one way for asbestos victims to seek compensation. Qualified mesothelioma lawyers can help victims look into other options. These may include Veterans Affairs (VA) claims and workers’ compensation. Some asbestos companies even have dedicated trust funds to pay victims.
Sources
Cornell Law School. Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States (1911).
ExxonMobil. Our history.
FindLaw. WRIGHT v. ExxonMobil Oil Company, Petitioner. (2023).
International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers. CONTINUING ASBESTOS EXPOSURES AND DISEASE: Major Refineries and Industrial Facilities: 1980 – 2018.
JUSTIA. Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Minton.
MoreLaw. Rubert “Bert” Minton v. Exxon Mobil.
NJ.com. N.J. Supreme Court denies ExxonMobil’s appeal of Berkeley Heights woman’s $7M award.
SAFETY HEALTH ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS CORP. AN ASSESSMENT OF THE RISK OF HEALTH EFFECTS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF MOBIL PRODUCTS BEARING THE NAME “DUM DUM”.
SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD. ExxonMobil, Lockheed Martin settle dispute over alleged asbestos-containing Dum Dum product line.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE. HEALTH HAZARD EVALUATION REPORT 72-91-37: MOBIL OIL CORPORATION.
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Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
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