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Asbestos in Rhode Island

Linda Molinari
Author: Linda Molinari
Jennifer Lucarelli
Last Updated: 3/6/2026

In Rhode Island, asbestos was often used in home construction until the 1980s. People who worked in manufacturing, power generation or shipbuilding may also have been exposed. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

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Asbestos Use in Rhode Island

People who have lived or worked in Rhode Island may have been exposed to asbestos in their workplace or home. Asbestos exposure in Rhode Island occurred most often in schools and at power, chemical and manufacturing plants. Any level of exposure puts people at greater risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Inside these buildings, asbestos was most often found by or in boilers, ceilings, furnaces, pipes and walls. Many jobsites used asbestos products for fireproofing and insulation. This practice took advantage of the mineral’s durability and heat resistance.

Rhode Island Asbestos Statistics

Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are still a possible health risk for Rhode Island residents. Key facts and statistics about asbestos and mesothelioma in Rhode Island from 1999 to 2020 include:

  • Rhode Island ranked 42nd for the most mesothelioma cases in the United States at 312.
  • Rhode Island ranked 43rd for the most mesothelioma deaths in the United States at 256.
  • Providence County has the highest mesothelioma mortality rate in the state at 116 deaths.

Patients seeking treatment in Rhode Island have access to experienced mesothelioma doctors at the Lifespan Cancer Institute, located at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. Other treatment options are also available in nearby states.

People with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may qualify to seek compensation. Rhode Island mesothelioma lawyers can help asbestos-exposure victims determine their legal options and file lawsuits on their behalf.

Occupational Asbestos Use in Rhode Island

The manufacturing industry was a major source of occupational asbestos exposure in Rhode Island. Chemical plants, power stations, schools and shipyards were also notable sources. Workers in these fields faced a high risk of asbestos exposure. This level of exposure may cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Occupations Exposed to Asbestos in Rhode Island
  • Custodians
  • Electricians
  • Engineers
  • Instrumentation engineers
  • Instrumentation technicians
  • Machine operators
  • Operations managers
  • Plumbers
  • Power dispatchers
  • Power distributors
  • Power plant operators
  • Quality assurance workers
  • Quality control workers
  • Riggers
  • Safety inspectors
  • Shipwrights
  • Shipyard workers
  • Solderers
  • Systems operators
  • Teachers
  • Veterans
  • Welders

Workers in Rhode Island who were exposed to asbestos may have unknowingly put their families at risk of secondary exposure. This can occur when asbestos fibers stick to a worker’s clothing or hair, and a family member inhales the fibers.

Homeowners in Rhode Island may also be at risk of asbestos exposure if their houses were built or remodeled between the 1940s and 1980s. Asbestos can be found in adhesives, caulk, insulation, plasters, shingles, tiles and many other building materials.

Apartment building residents may also be at risk of exposure. In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took action against two property management and real estate development firms in Providence. These companies allegedly violated the Clean Air Act asbestos reporting requirements.

Schools

Across the state, Rhode Island has many schools built with asbestos-containing materials. For example, Ashton Elementary School, McCourt Middle School and North Cumberland Middle School were all confirmed to have asbestos floor tiles.

In 1980, a statewide survey on spray-on asbestos use in schools was conducted. The study showed that 24 of 326 schools, or 8%, tested positive for asbestos.

The Rhode Island Asbestos Act and the 1986 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act now ensure that schools have asbestos management plans in place and conduct regular asbestos inspections.

Military

Located on Aquidneck Island, the maritime city of Newport is home to Naval Station Newport. This well-known U.S. naval base has been in operation since 1900. After being declared a Superfund site, asbestos waste was found on-site in a rubble fill.

In addition to this discovery, many Navy ships were built with asbestos products through the 1970s. The carcinogen could be found in most parts of these ships. Military and naval bases also often relied on asbestos in their construction, which heightens the risk of exposure for Army veterans.

Manufacturing

Providence, Rhode Island, has long been an industrial hub. Manufacturers of all kinds were based in the state’s capital city. They made electrical equipment, machinery, silverware, textiles, water heaters and boilers.

These manufacturing companies may have exposed their employees to asbestos. The facilities and machinery often contained asbestos products. Businesses in Rhode Island with known asbestos exposure include A. O. Smith Corporation, Acme Tile Company and Halkyard Manufacturing Company.

Shipbuilding

Given Rhode Island’s coastal location, many shipyards are located along the state’s shores. Ships were built and repaired at these sites, including Herreshoff Boatyard in Bristol and Wickford Shipyard in North Kingstown.

Shipbuilding is considered among the most dangerous jobs for exposing workers to asbestos. This is because the mineral was heavily used throughout all the ship’s parts. Many shipwrights, shipyard workers and nearby residents may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos.

Breweries

Breweries with an established history often have older facilities that may contain asbestos. The mineral was commonly used in construction and machinery. Several breweries in Rhode Island are known to have had some level of asbestos, including Narragansett Brewery and Management Brewery in Cranston.

Questions About Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in Rhode Island? Ask experienced mesothelioma advocate Jennifer Lucarelli Ask a Question

Asbestos Superfund Sites in Rhode Island

The EPA has identified 13 Superfund sites in Rhode Island that contain various types of contamination. The agency identified asbestos as a contaminant at two of these sites, the Newport Naval Education and Training Center (NETC) and Stamina Mills.

Naval Station Newport

The Naval Station Newport was used as a refueling depot for the U.S. Navy from 1900 to the mid-1970s. Once called the NETC, the base spans 1,063 acres on Aquidneck and Gould Islands. It includes the towns of Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport and Jamestown.

The NETC was added to the Superfund list in 1989 for contamination in multiple areas. These areas include a former shipyard, a fire training area, five tank farms, a landfill and the groundwater. Asbestos-containing material was found at Coddington Cove Rubble Fill. Also known as Coddington Point, the Navy used this site for the disposal of ash, asphalt, brush, concrete, rubble, slate and wood.

Both the EPA and the Navy have investigated the naval base and are aiding in the cleanup process. Because of the number of contaminated areas, cleanup efforts and monitoring are ongoing. Today, the site still operates as a naval base and is referred to as Naval Station Newport.

Stamina Mills

Stamina Mills was a five-acre textile mill in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The textile mill operated from the early 1900s through 1975. Many years later, the EPA identified asbestos-containing materials in an old office building on the property.

The office building was the last original structure at Stamina Mills. When part of the roof collapsed, it increased the likelihood of airborne asbestos fibers. For this reason, the office building was demolished in 2021. The site remains under EPA supervision.

Asbestos Exposure in Rhode Island Cities

Below is a list of Rhode Island cities with known asbestos use at jobsites. Any level of exposure may put workers at risk of developing mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. Click on a city to see more detailed information about exposure risks and resources available.

Asbestos Risks at Other Rhode Island Jobsites

In addition to these major Rhode Island cities, asbestos exposure has occurred at other jobsites throughout the state. Anyone who experiences asbestos exposure faces the risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.

Rhode Island Asbestos Work Sites
Sources

  1. Art in Ruins. Narragansett Brewery, Cranston.

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER: About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020.

  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER: United States and Puerto Rico Cancer Statistics, 1999-2021 Incidence Request.

  4. Faich GA. Asbestos hazard evaluation in Rhode Island schools. Am J Public Health. 1980 Feb;70(2):162–4.

  5. NBC 10 WJAR. Asbestos found in at least 3 Cumberland schools.

  6. NRI NOW. EPA announces completion of hazardous waste cleanup at former Stamina Mills office.

  7. State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Asbestos in the Home.

  8. State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Asbestos Information for Homeowners.

  9. State of Rhode Island Department of Health. Asbestos Information for Schools.

  10. United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Announces Completion of Hazardous Waste Cleanup in North Smithfield, R.I.

  11. United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA takes action against two Rhode Island companies for Clean Air Act Asbestos violations.

  12. United States Environmental Protection Agency. NEWPORT NAVAL EDUCATION & TRAINING CENTER, NEWPORT, RI.

  13. United States Environmental Protection Agency. STAMINA MILLS, NORTH SMITHFIELD (FORESTDALE), RI.

  14. United States Geological Survey. Reported Historic Asbestos Mines, Historic Asbestos Prospects, and Natural Asbestos Occurrences in the Eastern United States.

  15. United States Navy. NAVSTA Newport RAB Celebrates 20th Anniversary.

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Linda Molinari, Editor in Chief at Mesothelioma.com
Written by Linda Molinari Editor in Chief
Jennifer Lucarelli
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