Mesothelioma in Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska, industries used asbestos for heat resistance and insulation. The mineral was often used in different turbine components and equipment at power stations in Anchorage. This put workers at increased risk for mesothelioma. Anchorage asbestos victims can find local treatment and legal resources below.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska Mesothelioma Treatment
Asbestos exposure in Alaska may have led workers and residents to develop an asbestos disease. Anchorage residents who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should seek treatment at specialized cancer centers. Patients can find mesothelioma treatment options in Anchorage or travel to facilities in the lower 48 states. For example, patients can travel to Seattle, Washington, for mesothelioma treatment. Doctors at these facilities offer patients a personalized medical plan using cutting-edge treatment options. Patients may also be eligible to participate in clinical trials locally or out of state.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Anchorage, Alaska
Patients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should seek care from a cancer center with mesothelioma treatment experience. Patients in the Anchorage area can find treatment options in Alaska at the Providence Alaska Medical Center. Doctors at this cancer center provide expertise in treating mesothelioma. Specifically, this cancer center offers access to clinical trials and uses CyberKnife® technology and robot-assisted surgery as part of their cancer treatment.
Patients also have the option to seek mesothelioma treatment at cancer centers outside Alaska. For instance, the Swedish Cancer Institute at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, also treats patients with mesothelioma. The Swedish Cancer Institute has specialists experienced in treating patients with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other treatments. This cancer center focuses on the Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy (SMART) approach.
Anchorage, Alaska Mesothelioma Doctors
Individuals with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease in Anchorage may contact a specialist with experience treating the disease. Mesothelioma doctors in Anchorage or in the lower 48 states can develop personalized treatment plans for patients.
Working with a mesothelioma specialist ensures that patients have access to innovative treatment methods. Top doctors are often affiliated with medical centers and research institutes that can offer support for patients and their family members.
Anchorage, Alaska Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Mesothelioma patients in Anchorage have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against responsible asbestos companies after becoming ill. Surviving loved ones have also filed successful lawsuits against negligent asbestos companies. After a diagnosis or death, individuals should talk to a mesothelioma law firm about eligibility for lawsuits and other legal options.
Dedicated attorneys understand state laws around asbestos litigation and can help determine the best legal option for maximum compensation for mesothelioma.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Anchorage, Alaska
An experienced asbestos attorney can help Anchorage mesothelioma victims and their loved ones receive compensation. A lawyer who specializes in asbestos cases will be familiar with the complexities of mesothelioma. They can also help research asbestos-containing products and asbestos companies to build a successful case.
Asbestos lawyers will work to hold these companies accountable for wrongful exposure by filing applicable lawsuits and bankruptcy trust claims. It is important to work with lawyers experienced in Alaska asbestos litigation to ensure all applicable state laws are followed.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Anchorage, Alaska
Each state has statutes of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. Deadlines for filing a personal injury case begin when someone who was exposed to asbestos is diagnosed with a related disease. A wrongful death case can be filed by the family of the deceased victim soon after death. A mesothelioma lawyer can help file a lawsuit on behalf of the victim or their family.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related death.
A lawsuit may result in financial compensation for a victim or their family member. Compensation can help cover treatment costs, end-of-life expenses, lost household income and other expenses.
Asbestos victims in Anchorage have received compensation from successful legal action. Examples of clients who have been assisted in Anchorage include:
Age: 63
Occupation: Air Force
Jobsite Worked at: Elmendorf Air Force Base (1975 – 1976)
Settlement: ~$3,364,370
Age: 48
Occupation: Household
Jobsite Worked at: Jack’s Trading Post (1988 – 1993)
Settlement: ~$2,214,474
Age: 84
Occupations: Air Force, Mechanic
Jobsite Worked at: Elmendorf Air Force Base (1946 – 1949)
Settlement: ~$1,546,461
Age: 94
Occupations: Navy, Pipefitter
Jobsite Worked at: Northern Stevedoring Alaska Railroad (1951 – 1952)
Settlement: ~$1,154,968
Asbestos Use in Anchorage, Alaska
Because of Alaska’s rugged topography and glacier fields, a statewide grid for power transmission and distribution is not possible. Instead, Alaskan cities and regions must generate their own electricity to serve their populations and industries. Currently, Chugach Electric owns and operates seven power plants that provide electricity to Anchorage. Six of these power plants have units that were commissioned between 1955 and 1979. These plants use a mix of natural gas- and hydraulic-powered turbines for power generation.
Power generation is highly heat-intensive, so asbestos was once used extensively in different turbine components and insulation. Power workers and other tradesmen that worked in plants built before the 1980s would have been exposed to asbestos regularly when servicing plant equipment.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 48 |
| Female | 8* |
*This is an estimate based on CDC data for total mesothelioma deaths in the borough and deaths among male patients
Asbestos at Chugach Power Plants in Anchorage, Alaska
Chugach Electric currently operates seven power plants in and around Anchorage. Each plant houses multiple units. The oldest units were commissioned in 1955 at the Eklutna Power Plant. The Chugach Electric plants that service Anchorage and surrounding areas are:
- Beluga Power Plant
- Cooper Lake Power Plant
- Eklutna Power Plant
- George M. Sullivan Plant
- Hank Nikkels Plant
- International Generation Turbines (IGT)
- Southcentral Power Project
Many components in power production equipment used to contain asbestos for its heat-resistance properties. Some examples of these asbestos materials include pipe coverings, gaskets and insulation.
When plant machinery was serviced or replaced, these asbestos components were often cut, producing asbestos dust that workers would inhale. Many companies supplied different asbestos components to power plants. At least five asbestos trusts list Chugach plants in Anchorage as an approved jobsite for claim submission. Alaskan workers exposed to asbestos on the job may be eligible for compensation.
Anchorage, Alaska Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Alaska Native Medical Hospital
- Alaska Pump & Supply, Inc.
- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
- Amoco Production Company
- Anchorage International Airport
- Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility
- Aquatrain
- Aurora Power Resources, Inc.
- Beluga Power Station
- Bernice Lake Power Station
- C.R. Lewis Company, Inc.
- Campbell Creek Pump Station
- Chester Creek Sewage Pump Station
- Chevron Asphalt Company
- Chugach Electric Association Inc.
- Dock – Fire Lake Lodge
- Elmendorf Air Force Base
- Fort Richardson
- Greater Anchorage Area Borough Sewage Plant
- Hotel Captain Cook
- Industrial Air Products
- Knik Arm Power Plant
- Liquid Air, Inc.
- Northern Roofing & Siding
- Pan American Petroleum Company
- R. L. Lawler, Inc.
- Ryan & Haworth Company
- Standard Oil
- Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
- Well House #10
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Chugach Electric. Our power generation facilities.
Peltier R. Top Plant: Southcentral Power Project, Anchorage, Alaska. Power. September 2013.
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
Legally
Reviewed by
Jennifer Lucarelli
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.
