When you worked in Kansas, asbestos may have been there with you

 From agricultural to industrial: when planes and cars came to Kansas, asbestos did, too

Although Kansas is primarily known as an agricultural state, the use of asbestos there became widespread as industries expanded. The state’s reputation for agriculture was the impetus for the development of industrialized industries there, such as milling. Railroads later connected the Midwestern state to the East and farm products were exported as raw materials from Kansas. At the center of the nation, Kansas became a crossroads for transportation industries and home to a growing number of major companies. All of this development unfortunately also exposed many people like you to asbestos, as the dangerous carcinogen was used commonly by many of the industries in Kansas.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit environmental research organization, between 1979 and 1999 there were an estimated total of 360 asbestos-related deaths in Kansas. An estimated 95 of the fatalities were caused by asbestosis, an asbestos-induced respiratory disease. The fatal asbestos cancer, mesothelioma was responsible for the other 265 deaths.

For over two decades Weitz & Luxenberg has dealt with asbestos related litigation. We have helped clients just like you obtain $3 billion in compensation for the injuries they suffered due to negligent asbestos exposure.  Please continue to read more about asbestos exposure in Kansas, so that we can help you hold the company who got you sick accountable.

Sources of asbestos in Kansas where you could have been exposed include: 

Airplane factories

Kansas is now a world leader in aviation, claiming a large share of both US and world production and sales of commercial aircraft. Wichita is the home of Boeing, Cessna, Learjet, and Raytheon, which combined manufactured approximately 70% of the world's general aviation aircraft and $3.47 billion in sales. The aviation sector employs 19% of the manufacturing sector workforce. As such, many people who worked as steamfitters, welders, aviation mechanics, aviation electricians, and pipefitters were exposed to asbestos in this industry.

Mines

As Kansas continued to industrialize, it became an energy provider, and opened numerous and mines, three of which were asbestos mines. Asbestos miners are typically at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure. Mine shafts usually had very poor ventilation and the small, needle-like asbestos fibers would linger in the air for days. Even if the miners wore some form of protection over their mouth and nose, they still inhaled and swallowed the fibers frequently. Worse yet, the fibers would adhere to the miner's clothing and become exposed to the miners' families.

Oil refineries

Oil refineries were also major centers of asbestos exposure. Asbestos insulation was used to wrap pipes and insulate tanks and the dangerous carcinogen was even used to line fire resistant suits. The oil refineries were located throughout the state in cities like Coffeyville, El Dorado, Independence and Kansas City. About nine total cities contained oil refineries where asbestos was prevalent in Kansas.

Construction

The industry with the current highest risk for asbestos exposure in Kansas is the construction industry. In Kansas, this has most recently involved improper asbestos removal in many of the state’s correctional facilities. The Topeka Correctional Facility was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a violation of federal law during the removal of asbestos-tainted flooring in a prison dormitory in 2005, exposing hundreds of the prisons staff

and inmates to significant levels of asbestos. This prompted an audit by the Kansas Department of Corrections of dozens of other correctional facilities throughout the state which found huge amounts of asbestos in buildings in cities such as Wichita, Hutchinson, Norton, and Stockton.

Power plants in Kansas such as the Wolf Creek Nuclear power plant in Burlington levels of asbestos have also been reported to contain significant amounts of asbestos.

If you were exposed to asbestos in Kansas, let us help

Weitz & Luxenberg is familiar with the actions of companies like the ones in Kansas that knowingly exposed individuals like you to asbestos, and we can help to make sure you get just compensation for your illness. This compensation can help cover medical bills, and other related expenses. It can also help to guarantee monetary stability for you and your family.

Our firm has a team of skilled attorneys with a wealth of knowledge concerning asbestos-related illnesses. Please contact us by filling out the confidential form on this page. After sending the form, a representative from our firm will be in touch to provide you with a legal consultation concerning your case.

Acknowledgments:

http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/historicpublications/Pubs/cont141d.pdf

http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/business-and-industry-in-kansas/14208

http://www.city-data.com/states/Kansas-Industry.html

http://www.ewg.org/sites/asbestos/tables/deathdetails_county.php?fips=20000

http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-08-24/ks_prisons_tested_for_asbestos

http://www.ewg.org/sites/asbestos/maps/shipment_data.php?stab=KS