Mesothelioma in Phoenix, Arizona
Asbestos was used frequently in Phoenix, Arizona, schools, homes and structures. As a result, Phoenix residents have experienced asbestos exposure. Exposure may lead to asbestos diseases, such as mesothelioma. Impacted residents can seek local treatment and legal resources.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona Mesothelioma Treatment
Phoenix asbestos disease patients have several treatment options available in Arizona. The city is the tenth largest by population in the U.S. and provides several renowned medical centers.
Phoenix is home to four facilities with the ability to treat mesothelioma. These centers offer experienced doctors who are well versed in treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma and pleural mesothelioma.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix has several options for mesothelioma cancer treatment centers. For instance, the Banner Health system has medical centers located in or near Phoenix. Banner Health is a nonprofit network of 30 hospitals and is based in Phoenix. Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix specializes in mesothelioma care. Patients can access the latest treatments here, as well as various support services.
Patients may be able to participate in clinical trials at Phoenix’s medical centers. The Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit academic medical center known for research. It has two hospital locations in the Phoenix area. The Mayo Clinic Hospital offers specialized treatment for mesothelioma, including immunotherapy and gene therapy.
Phoenix, Arizona Mesothelioma Doctors
Asbestos exposure in Arizona may have led workers and residents to develop an asbestos disease. Mesothelioma patients should seek care from an experienced mesothelioma oncologist. Patients in Phoenix have access to local mesothelioma doctors specializing in the latest diagnostic tools and treatment options. They can also provide valuable knowledge about this rare cancer and its progression.
Phoenix, Arizona Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Phoenix residents diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may be eligible for financial compensation. Pursuing legal options in Arizona can help patients cover costs associated with their diagnoses. Compensation can be used for medical expenses and lost wages.
Compensation may result from a mesothelioma settlement, lawsuit verdict or an asbestos trust fund claim. Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma in Phoenix have received compensation.
To pursue compensation, victims should contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Phoenix, Arizona
Mesothelioma victims and their loved ones may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit for an asbestos-related diagnosis or death. Patients wishing to learn more about their compensation options should connect with an experienced mesothelioma law firm. Dedicated asbestos lawyers are knowledgeable about Arizona state laws and can help mesothelioma victims navigate the legal process.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Phoenix, Arizona
Each state has filing deadlines, called statutes of limitations. These statutes dictate how many years after a death or diagnosis a lawsuit must be filed. An attorney can help victims file their lawsuit in a timely manner.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related death.
Many Phoenix residents have filed successful asbestos lawsuits that resulted in compensation. Mesothelioma patients should seek assistance from an asbestos law firm to learn about their eligibility to file lawsuits. Mesothelioma attorneys can assist with choosing the best options for financial compensation.
Successful asbestos lawsuits from Phoenix, Arizona, include:
Age: 67
Occupations: Navy, Engineer
Jobsites Worked at: Phelps Dodge Mercantile Company (1955 – 1957)
Settlement: ~$2,167,842
Age: 46
Occupation: Construction
Jobsites Worked at: Building Professionals Inc. (1998 – 1999); Precision Mechanical Inc. (1995)
Settlement: ~$1,922,189
Age: 70
Occupation: Maintenance
Jobsites Worked at: Atlantic Richfield Gas Station (1960); City of Phoenix Public Works (1979 – 2006); Maricopa County Maintenance Yard (1970 – 1979); Norton Packaging (1970 – 1979); Ronning Landscaping (1970 – 1979); Royal Crown Cola (1973 – 1975)
Settlement: ~$1,178,241
Age: 66
Occupation: Mechanic
Jobsites Worked at: Arizona Biltmore (1972 – 1976); Hilton (1974 – 1979); Laborer’s Union A2 (1972 – 1976); Naumann Forklift Company (1971 – 1972); Roto Rooters (1974 – 1979)
Settlement: ~$988,660
Asbestos Use in Phoenix, Arizona
Asbestos was prominently used in Phoenix from the mid-1900s to the early 1980s. Despite asbestos regulations in place today, many individuals in Phoenix still face exposure to asbestos. Residents of Phoenix may still come into contact with asbestos in worksites, homes and other buildings.
Asbestos was incorporated into Phoenix landmarks, schools, homes and other areas. Now decades old, many of these buildings require demolition and renovation. If disturbed, asbestos products may release fibers into the air. Airborne fibers can be inhaled or ingested, putting individuals at risk for mesothelioma.
Over the years, many Phoenix landmarks have presented asbestos concerns. These include Air Force facilities, office buildings and schools. Notable sites of confirmed asbestos use in Phoenix include:
- Arizona State University
- Luke Air Force Base
- Mountain Bell Building
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Phoenix Union High School
- W.R. Grace Vermiculite Processing Plant
These exposure sites may have exposed thousands of asbestos workers, their loved ones and other bystanders.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 445 |
| Female | 129 |
W.R. Grace’s Vermiculite Facility and Asbestos
One of the most prominent asbestos exposure sites in Phoenix was the W.R. Grace vermiculite plant. Vermiculite is a harmless mineral often found near asbestos. When mining vermiculite, the mineral can be contaminated with asbestos.
Vermiculite was used frequently in insulation products. Experts estimate 80% of the world’s vermiculite supply came from the asbestos-contaminated mine in Libby, Montana.
The asbestos company was responsible for manufacturing many asbestos-containing vermiculite products. Once mined, the vermiculite was transported from Montana to a processing facility.
From 1964 to 1992, the W.R. Grace location in Phoenix processed vermiculite. From 1971 to 1992 alone, the facility processed 204,000 tons of Libby vermiculite. After 1992, vermiculite processing ceased at the Phoenix plant.
Without question, former W.R. Grace workers were exposed to airborne levels of asbestos that posed a public health hazard. W.R. Grace & Co records indicate that workers were exposed to high indoor levels of Libby asbestos in the air.
Anyone working at the Phoenix plant before 1992 may have been exposed to asbestos.
In 2001, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a country-wide evaluation of sites that received vermiculite from the Libby mine. The EPA oversaw asbestos abatement actions, including:
- Removing soil in the railroad loading area to a depth of one foot
- Backfilling the area with clean soil
- Capping the new soil with concrete or asphalt
- Micro-vacuuming upward-facing horizontal surfaces
- Wet wiping surfaces after micro-vacuuming to remove any remaining asbestos-containing dust
These actions helped to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure from the Phoenix plant. However, remediation records mark several areas as a continuing potential hazard. These include on-site soil, residential settings and consumer products.
Phoenix, Arizona Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Alcoa Corporation
- Allison Steel Manufacturing Company
- Aluminum Processors, Inc.
- Arizona Bank Building
- Arizona Brewing Company
- Arizona Edison Company
- Arizona Engine and Pump Company
- Arizona Light and Power Company, Inc.
- Arizona Liquor Dist Siding
- Arizona Packaging Company
- Arizona Public Service Company
- Arizona State Hospital
- Arizona State University Library
- Arizona State University, Tempe Campus Tunnel
- Arizona Table Pad Company
- Asbestos Engineering & Supply Company
- Banner Desert Medical Center
- Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
- Barlett Heard Land and Cattle Company
- Boy Scouts of America, Roosevelt Council Headquarters
- Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center
- Central Arizona Light & Power Company
- Central Arizona St. Electric Station
- Central Plaza Building
- Century Brick Company
- Combustion Equipment Company
- Constable Ice and Fuel Company
- Crystal Ice and Cold Storage Company
- Cudahy Packing Company
- DeVry University, Phoenix Campus
- Fenco, Inc.
- Fiberglass Engineering & Supply Division, Owens-Corning
- Fort Huachaca
- Garrett AiResearch
- General Aluminum & Chemical Corp
- General Electric Company (GE)
- Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery
- Honeywell Inc
- Hotel Adams
- Indian River School
- John C. Lincoln Medical Center
- Kyrene Steam Power Plant
- Le Fleur Corporation
- Luke Air Force Base
- M.H. Sherman Company
- Merabank Tower
- Merritt Air Conditioning, Inc.
- Motorola 52nd Street Plant
- Mountain Bell Telephone Company
- Murray Marsh
- National Brewing Company
- Normande Iron & Metal
- Ott Hardware Company
- Palo Verde Generating Station
- Papago Park Administrative Building
- Phoenix Cement Company
- Phoenix Charging Plant
- Phoenix Civic Plaza, Symphony Hall
- Phoenix Gas Works
- Phoenix Indian School
- Phoenix Memorial Hospital
- Phoenix Newspaper Building
- Phoenix Railway Company
- Phoenix Steel Corporation
- Phoenix Utility Company
- Reynolds Aluminum Plant
- Reynolds Metals Company
- Safeway
- Salt River Power Agua Fria
- Salt River Project
- Salt River Pump & Supply Company, Inc.
- Santa Fe Elementary School, Team Track
- Southwest Forest Industries, Inc.
- St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Sunnyslope Family Health Center
- Sunnyslope High School
- Tovrea Meat Packing Company
- Tucson Gas and Electric Company
- Uneeda Appliance Company
- Union Carbide Corporation
- United Wholesale, South Pacific Team Track
- Valley National Bank
- West Phoenix Power Plant
- Western Electric Company, Inc. Cable Plant
Sources
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. Former Workers at Two Arizona Vermiculite Processing Plants Were Exposed to Asbestos Sites in Phoenix and Glendale Evaluated. ATSDR: Media Announcements. September 2006.
Arizona Department of Health Services. Health Consultation, W.R. Grace Exfoliation Facility 4220 W Glenrosa Ave Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
City of Phoenix. Aviation Department.
Industrial Commission of Arizona. Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH).
Laughlin L. Jim Kaufman’s Bottom Line. Phoenix New Times. May 2020.
Maricopa County. Asbestos. Reviewed 2020.
Modern Phoenix. Farewell, MoBell. Beadle Archive.
U.S. Air Force. Final Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Barry M. Goldwater Range East Range Enhancements. 56th Fighter Wing, Range Management Office: Luke Air Force Base. October 2010.
U.S. Department of Transportation. Availability of Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ. Federal Aviation Administration Western-Pacific Region. April 2006.
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
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.