Mesothelioma in Mobile, Alabama

Many Mobile residents have filed successful asbestos lawsuits. Successful lawsuits may result in a mesothelioma settlement or verdict. This compensation can help asbestos victims pay for expenses related to their diagnosis.

Examples of clients served in the greater Mobile area include:

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Asbestos Use in Mobile, Alabama

Asbestos use in Mobile, Alabama, occurred between 1930 and 1980. High levels of Alabama asbestos exposure occurred from the 1960s to the early 1980s.

In Mobile, asbestos was primarily used on ships. Asbestos products were also present in paper mills, cotton mills, military bases and other jobsites.

Chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite asbestos are the most common types of asbestos used in Mobile. If asbestos-containing materials face damage or wear and tear, asbestos fibers become airborne. Airborne fibers can then be inhaled or ingested, leading to harmful health effects.

_{*This is an estimate based on CDC data for total mesothelioma deaths in the county and deaths among male patients}

Shipbuilding and Asbestos Exposure in Mobile, Alabama

Ship production was a large industry in Mobile, Alabama, that relied on asbestos. The coastal city was known for military shipbuilding during World War I and World War II. Historians note shipbuilding was crucial to Mobile’s economy throughout the world wars.

Shipbuilding and ship maintenance employed many in Mobile. Trades within the industry include:

• Boilermakers
• Carpenters
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Foremen
• General laborers
• Insulators
• Machinists
• Plumbers and pipefitters
• Riggers
• Structural fabricators
• Welders and solderers

Individuals working in any of these trades could have been exposed to asbestos. Ships, shipyards and docks incorporated various asbestos products. If exposed, workers risk asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses.

In addition to shipyard workers, Navy veterans also risked exposure from ships and shipyards in Mobile. Asbestos was used throughout living quarters, mess halls and other areas of the ships. Some veterans report asbestos dust falling from ship ceilings during battle.

Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company and Asbestos

One of the most well-known shipyards in the country was the Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO), located in Mobile. ADDSCO became Alabama’s largest employer. It was also one of the largest employers in the southern United States.

Many ADDSCO employees faced the risk of asbestos exposure. These exposures may have occurred when workers built, repaired and refitted vessels. Ships were often refitted instead of constructing new builds with safer asbestos alternatives.

Several ADDSCO employees have filed lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers, including Johns-Manville. These manufacturers produced the materials that led to exposure. Many instances of exposure occurred during and immediately after World War II. During this time, asbestos products were torn out and replaced, which could release large amounts of asbestos fibers into the air.

The USS Alabama and Asbestos

The USS Alabama (BB-60) battleship was built in 1940 and launched in 1942. The World War II-era ship housed 2,500 American crew members.

Many battleships were later retired and scrapped. However, residents of Alabama pushed for USS Alabama’s preservation. In 1965, the battleship was anchored in Mobile and opened to the public, creating the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.

The USS Alabama may have had asbestos in the walls, roofing, flooring and other construction materials, such as insulation. Asbestos was also likely present in the engine and boiler rooms. Individuals involved in the construction or repairs of the USS Alabama may have been exposed to asbestos.