Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in West Virginia
Prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health problems including pleural mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. If you have lived and worked in West Virginia for significant amount of time, there is a chance that you were exposed to asbestos at home or in the workplace. For your convenience, we have compiled information about asbestos and mesothelioma in the state.
Below you will find recent statistics about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in West Virginia. We have also included descriptions of industries, occupations and lists of cities, towns and specific job sites in West Virginia where asbestos exposure has occurred. Local West Virginia mesothelioma doctors and treatment centers are also listed. Finally, we present recent local news articles about asbestos and mesothelioma.
West Virginia Mesothelioma and Asbestos Statistics
From 1999-2015, 432 West Virginia residents died from mesothelioma
West Virginia has a higher than average mesothelioma mortality rate of approximately 14 people per million annually (Source: CDC)
West Virginia does not have any known occurrences of asbestos (Source: USGS)
Hancock and Wood counties were ranked among the top 50 counties with the highest mesothelioma mortality rates from 2000 – 2009, with rates of about 39 and 25 people per million, respectively (Source: CDC)
Asbestos Use in West Virginia Work Environments
The lack of natural asbestos in West Virginia hasn’t prevented residents from being exposed. Many businesses throughout the state used asbestos in some way in their facilities, potentially exposing workers on the job.
Coal Mining:
Coal mining continues to be an important aspect of West Virginia’s economy today and employees an estimated 12,000 workers. Though the state does not have any noted asbestos prospects, miners may still face asbestos-contaminated coal. Equipment for mining has also been found to contain asbestos, including in welding blankets and transit panels. Consolidation Coal Company in Fairmont and Ben Franklin Coal Company in Moundsville are just a few of the coal mining companies in the state where workers were exposed to asbestos.
Power Plants:
Fort Martin Power Plant in Morgantown and Albright Power Station are among hundreds of power plants across the country that utilized asbestos in their facilities. Whether the mineral is found in the building’s walls or used in the equipment, power plants often sought the material because it could help prevent fires or possible combustion. Some workers may have even worn asbestos clothing that contained asbestos.
Manufacturing:
Centurial Products and Fourco Glass, both located in Clarksburg, were part of the manufacturing center in the city. Clarksburg became a huge industrial and manufacturing center in the 20th century, especially in the production of glass. Unfortunately, while these businesses were pumping out products, they were also exposing their workers to asbestos. Machinery would often contain some asbestos products, and asbestos could likely be found in the structures themselves as well.
Oil Refineries:
Though the oil industry never became a huge economic boost for West Virginia, refineries still opened up in various cities. Ergon, a well-known company in the petroleum industry, opened one location in West Virginia, as well. Because of the reactivity and high heats used in the processing of oil, asbestos became a wonder mineral for this industry. Asbestos was a clear solution to protect the plants from risk of fire, and also protect the expensive equipment inside. Employees paid the ultimate price of such a heavy reliance on the good, however, and many have faced asbestos exposure as a result of their trade.
Asbestos Superfund Sites in West Virginia
West Virginia has had several sites added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list over the years. Two of these sites expressed a concern with asbestos contamination among other environmental issues.
Fike Chemical Inc.
Fike Chemical Inc. in Nitro, WV occupies 12 acres with two functions; the majority of the site is dedicated to chemical processing and one acre of the site contained the Cooperative Sewage Treatment plant. Hazardous waste was improperly disposed of on site, where the owner buried these materials in lagoons. These wastes included various metals, asbestos, and several other contaminants that polluted the surrounding soil and groundwater. The site was added to the Superfund list in 1988. Cleanup efforts began in 1989 with disposal off-site of these contaminants and creating a new wastewater treatment system to avoid any future contamination. The site continues to be monitored and additional cleanup efforts will continue if necessary.
West Virginia Ordnance
The over 8,000-acre site of the West Virginia Ordnance in Point Pleasant was owned by the U.S. Department of Defense during World War II for the production of TNT. After being decommissioned in 1945, the industrial portion of the land was deeded to the state for wildlife management. Over the years, contamination was noted from its original use in TNT production. The EPA noted the industrial area, facilities on site, and the wastewater disposal system were all contaminated with TNT and its byproducts, as well as asbestos. The site was officially added to the list in 1983, and extensive cleanup efforts began shortly after. The EPA, along with the Department of Defense and state agencies, created a long-term monitoring plan and will continue to maintain the site.
Asbestos Exposure at Other West Virginia Job Sites
Asbestos exposure is also a problem if you look beyond the major cities and towns in West Virginia. Select a town to see the list of its job sites where asbestos exposure occurred. Asbestos exposure at any one of the work sites revealed could put a worker at risk to develop mesothelioma cancer.
Albright Power Station
Monongahela Power Company
Potomac Edison
Electro Metallurgical Company
Elkem Metals
Union Carbide
West Virginia Hydro Electric Company
Apple Grove Pulp Company
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
Point Pleasant Plant
Shell Chemical Company
Beckley Armory
Beckley National Bank
Pinecrest Hospital
United Mine Workers Hospital
V. A. Hospital
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
American Gas and Electric Company
Beech Bottom Power Company, Inc.
Ohio Power Company
Wheeling Pittsburg Steel
Belle Alkali Company
Belle Works
Diamond Shamrock
E.I.Dupont Denemours
Sharples Solvents Corporation
Union Boiler
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Benwood Iron Works
Boston & Ohio Railroad
Wheeling Coke Ovens
Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel
Wheeling Steel and Iron Company
Wheeling Steel Corporation
Bluefield Ice & Coal Company
Bluefield Water Works
Bluestone Tract'N Company
Coppinger Machinery
East River Electric Company
Norfolk and Western Railway Company
Buckhannon Light and Water Company
Corhart Cement Company
Corhart Refractories Company
J. F. Pritchard & Company
Moore's Business Forms
Aep Cabin Creek Power Station
Appalachian Electric Power Company
Appalachian Power and Light. Company
Cabin Creek Power Plant
Hope Natural Gas Company
Pure Oil Company
A & I Company
Acands, Inc.
Agsten
Allied Services Incorporated
Amherst Industries, Inc.
Ap Green F B Company of Ohio
Appalachian Power Company
Ashland Oil & Refinery Company
Atlas Storage Warehouse
Baldwin Supply Company
Barium Reduction Corp
C&P Telephone Building
Camc General
Carbide & Carbon Chemical
Carbide Maintenance
Charleston Area Medical Center
Charleston General Hospital
Charleston Memorial Hospital
Charleston National Plaza
Columbia Gas Company
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp
Cultural Center
Daniel Boone Hotel
Dougherty Company, Inc
Duekto Comm. Center Fault
E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
Evans Supermarket
Farm Bureau Siding
Ford Motor Company
Furnace Engineering Corp
Gallipolis State Hospital
Goodrich Gulf Chemical Company Institute
Herbert J. Thomas Memorial Hospital
International Nickel Company
John Amos Powerhouse
Kanawa Water and Light Company
Kentucky Utilities Company
Libbey-Owens Ford Glass Company
Libby Owens Ford
Monongahela Power Company
Monsanto Chemical Company
Nl Industries, Inc.
Ohio Power Company
Owens Illinois Glass Company
Port Amherst
Raleigh Junk Company
True Temper Corporation
Union Carbide Chemical Company
United Engineering & Foundry Company
United States Naval Ordnance Plant
West Elementary School
West Virginia Power Company
West Virginia Statehouse
West Virginia Water and Electric Company
Westvaco & Food Machinery Corporation
Westvaco Chemical Div.
Westvaco Chlor Alkalai
Wesvaco Chlorine Products Corporation
American Tin Plate Company
Celotex Corporation
Chester Rolling Mill Company
Chester Works
Koppers Company, Inc.
Taylor Smith & Taylor
Anchor Hocking Glass
Bcng Transmission Corp
Boston & Ohio Railroad
Brockway Glass Company
Carnation Company
Centurial Products
Clarksburg Baptist Church
Clarksburg Electric Light Company
Continental Can Company
Equitable Gas Company
Equitable Resources, Inc.
Fourco Glass
Goff Office Building
Harvey Industries
Hazel Atlas Glass
Hope Natural Gas Company
Hornor Brothers Engineers
National Carbon Company
Owens Bottle Company
Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation
Phillips Sheet and Tin Plate Company
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company
Reserve Gas Company
Stuart-Mcmunn Company
Union Carbide & Chemicals
Union Protestant Hospital
Veterans Administation
Waste Water Treatment Plant
Waterworks
Weirton Steel Company
Appalachian Electric Power Company
Appalachian Power Company Mit
Captina Operating Company
Consolidation Coal Company
Cresap Powerhouse
Kammer Plant
Mitchell Powerhouse
Ohio Power Company
Acands, Inc.
Ap Green Refractories of Ohio
Armstrong Cork Company
Dunbar Glass
Dunbar Tire and Rubber Company
Port Amherst
Union Carbide Chemical Company
Allegheny Veener Plant
Barnard & Wetzek Block Company
C & P Telephone Company
Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company - New Dial Building
Elkins Hospital
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
Boston and Ohio Railroad Company
City Water Works
Consolidation Coal Company
Fairmont Aluminum Plant
Fairmont and Clarksburg Traction Company
Fairmont General Hospital
Monogahela Power Company
Monongah Glass Company
New England Engineering Company
Owens Illinois Glass Company
Pence Hall Fairmont State College
Sharon Steel
Western Electric Company
Westinghouse Electric
American Tar Products Company
Follansbee Brothers Company
Kippers Products Company
Koppers Company, Inc.
La Belle Iron Works
Steubenville Plant
Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel
Wheeling Steel Corporation
Alpheus Preparation Plant
Char. Iron Gary Mdowell Company
Olga Coal Company
P.P. Gary Station
U S Steel Corp
United States Coal and Coke Company
United States Steel Mining Company
Welch, Mcdowell Company
Appalachian Electric Power Company
Appalachian Electric Power Company - Kanawha River Plant
Appalachian Power Company
Appalachian Power Company
Glasgow Powerhouse
Kanawha River Plant
American Gas and Electric
Appalachian Electric Power Company
Ohio Power Company
Ohio Power Company Appalachian Power
Phillip Sporn Plant
East. Assoc. Goal
Eastern Gas & Fuel Association
Federal Coal and Coke Company
Seneca Coal Corporation
Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Company
Hinton Sanitary Board
Hinton Water Light and Supply Company
Sanitary Board
Wv Water Company
Ace Industries
American Car Foundry
Asbestos Service Company
C & O Railroad
Camden Inter State Railway Company
Chas. Boldt Glass Company
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
Connors Steel
Consolidated Light Heat and Power Company
Csx Railroad
Csx Transportation
Danco Incorporated
Enterprise-Black Diamond Corporation
Fesemier Packing Company
Houdaille Hershey Corp
Huntington Auto Supply Machine Shop
Huntington Pipe Incorporated
Huntington State Hospital
Huntington Water Company
Inco Alloys International
International Nickel Company
J.M. Mccoach and Company
Kerr Glass Manufacturing Corp
Locke Manufacturing Company
Martin Steel
Mccorkle Machine
Morehead State College
Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.
Owens Bottle Company
Owens Brockway
Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation
Owens Illinois Glass Company
Owens-Illinois, Inc.
Panasote Plant
Standard Ultramarine Company
Steel of West Virginia
West Siding
B. F. Goodrich
Carbide and Carbon Chemical Corp
Dupont
E. I. Dupont De Nemours & Company
Goodrich Gulf Chemicals Inc
Institute West Virginia Plant
Monsanto Chemical Company
Union Carbide & Carbon Chemical Corporation
Aristech
Ashland Oil
Consolidated Light, Heat and Power Company
Jefferey De Whitt Escalator Plant
Jeffery Dewitt Insulator Company
Novamount
Ohio Transmission & Pump
Ohio Valley Electric Railway Company
Am. Gas and Electric Company
Appalachian Electric Power Company
Aracoma Hotel Company
Kentucky and W Va Power Company
Logan Board of Education
Logan County Animal Shelter
Logan County Courthouse
Logan County Light and Power Company
Logan Planning Mill
Office of The County Administrator
Linde Air Products Company
Salt Mine
Union Carbide
Allegheny Energy Supply Company
Fort Martin Power Station
Monongahela Power Company
Valley Camp Coal Company
West Penn Power Company
Capital Cement Company
Continental Clay Products Company
Corning Glass Works
Interwoven Mills Inc
Martin Marietta Cement Company
Martinsburg Gas Company
Standard Lime & Cement Company
Western Electric Company, Inc.
Wheeling Pittsburg Steel
Amer Sheet and Tin Plate Company
Bureau of Mines
E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
First National Bank
Fort Martin Power Plant
Hayden Chemical Company
Heyden Matheson
Mathieson Chemical Corporation
Medical Center
Mississippi Glass Company
Monongalia County City Garage
Morgantown Electric and Tract. Company
Morgantown Energy Association
Olin Mathieson Chemical
Ordnance Works Disposal Areas
Pace Work Shop
Post Office & Federal Office Building
Sterling Faucet
Sterling Tubular Prod. Company
U. S. Bureau of Mines
U. S. Department of Interior
Union Utilities Company
University of West Virginia
West Virginia Plate Glass Company
West Virginia University
West Virginia University Medical Center
AEP
Allied Chemical & Dye Corp
Allied Chemical Company
Analine Chemical
Ben Franklin Coal Company
Cabot Carbon Black
Consolidation Coal Company - Coal Gasoline Plant
Fostoria Glass Company
Kammer Plant
Kammer Powerhouse
Mitchell Generating Station/ Ohio Power
Moundsville Power Plant
National Analine
Ohio Power Company
Owens Corning Fiberglass
Power Plant
Semet-Solvay Company
Solvay Chemical Company
Solvay Process Div
Solvay Process Div Allied Chemical and Dye Corp
St. Joseph Lead Works
United Zinc Smelting Corporation
Mount Storm Power Company
Mount Storm Station
Mt. Storm Powerhouse
Stone & Webster Engineering Corp
Virginia Electric & Power Company
Virginia Electric & Power Company
Virginia Power & Light
Columbia Southern Chemical
Linde Air Products Company
Moray Chemical Corporation
Natrium Plant
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company
Aep Graham's Power Station
American Alloys
American Electric Power
Appalachian Power Company
Central Operating Company
Foote Mineral
Mountaineer Power Plant
New Haven Power Plant
Philip Sporn Generating Station
Phillip Sporn Power Plant
Bayer Corporation
Central Valley Insulation Company
Centurial Products
Columbia Southern Chemical Company
L Air Liquide
Magnolia High School
Mitchell Generating Station/ Ohio Power
Mobay Chemical Company
Pierce Electric
Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company Chemical Div
United States War Department
Viking Glass Company
Ergon - West Virginia
Koppers Company, Inc.
Ohio Brass Company
Quaker State Corporation
Allied Chemical Company
American Viscose Corporation
Avtex Fibers
Charleston Paper Manufacturing Company
Fike Chemical
Fmc Corporation
Ford Motor Company
General Chemical Div Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation
Great Lakes Chemical Corporation
Monsanto
Monsanto Chemical Company
Monsanto Plant
Plant C
Powder Plant
Roberts Chemical, Inc.
Southern Dyestuffs Company
Tall Oil Plant
Union Boiler Repair Fabrication & Erection Company, Inc
Cabrera-Santiago, Manuel et al. “Prevalence of Asbestos-Related Disease Among Electrical Power Generation Workers in Puerto Rico.” Presentation at American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, 2007.
Evans, David and Greg Johnstone. “Asbestos Use Companies and Locations in West Virginia.” All About Malignant Mesothelioma (September 2006.)
Sorahan, Tom. “Mortality of UK Oil Refinery and Petroleum Distribution Workers, 1951-2003.” Occupational Medicine 57, no. 3 (2007): 177-85.
Free Mesothelioma Treatment Guide
Please fill in the form below to request our FREE Mesothelioma Treatment Guide. It will be sent to you within 24 hours.
Get Access To:
Top Mesothelioma Doctors and Cancer Centers in Your Area