Mesothelioma is aggressive cancer that grows in the thin layer of tissue that covers most of your body’s organs. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma that affects the lung tissue. But the disease also develops in the abdominal cavity and is called peritoneal mesothelioma. (Mayoclinic.org)
Occupational exposure to asbestos is the cause of most cases of mesothelioma. As invisible asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they stick in delicate body tissues in the lungs and abdomen. Over the years, these fibers can cause DNA changes that lead to tumor growth.
Tennessee and Asbestos Exposure
Most cases of mesothelioma in Tennessee are caused by occupational asbestos exposure. However, there have been tornadoes and floods in Tennessee in recent years that lead to large amounts of damage to hundreds of buildings and homes.
During the clean up after these events in 2010 and 2011, many Tennesseeans may have been exposed to asbestos. The carcinogen probably was part of the construction in some of the older demolished structures. (asbestos.com)
Tennessee Sites of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used in several major industries in Tennessee over the years that exposed thousands of workers to asbestos.
Paper and Pulp
One of the biggest companies in the paper and pulp industry in Tennessee was the Evergreen Packaging Company based in Memphis. It was once part of the International Paper Company.
But there are other paper companies in Tennessee that exposed mill workers, pulpers, and lumberjacks to asbestos, such as Tennessee River Pulp & Paper, Bowater Paper Mill, Mead Paper Mill, and Calhoun Paper Mill. (mesothelioma.com)
Energy
The Tennessee Valley Authority was the biggest provider of energy in the country in the 1930s and 1940s. It operated coal, gas, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants. The TVA and local power companies in the state used a lot of asbestos in their construction to protect from electricity and heat that is created during the generation of power.
Other power companies with asbestos problems include Chattanooga Electric Company, Tennessee Eastern Electric Company, and Knoxville Electric Light and Power Company.
Automobile
Tennessee has been the home of several automobile plants that manufacture car and truck parts. Some of them are the Ford Motor Company’s glass plant, based in Nashville, the Firestone plant in Memphis, and the Hoover Ball Bearing Company. These facilities were known to have asbestos in their construction and put many workers at risk.
Military
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is known as the home of the Manhattan Project, the once-classified federal project to develop nuclear weapons in the 1940s. When the project was in full swing, thousands of civilian and military workers lived in the town. Many buildings built during this period in Oak Ridge contained asbestos.
Chatanooga
In April 2011, a devastating EF5 tornado tore through seven states. Tennessee was one of them. More than 300 people died and entire neighborhoods were destroyed. While Alabama was hit the worst, the damage of the storm in Tennessee was a risk to the health of thousands in the state.
Asbestos-containing materials were used in commercial and residential buildings in the state until the 1980s, so there was a high probability that asbestos was in much of the wreckage. Since then, residents who were involved in the cleanup and rebuilding have been worried about how much asbestos they were exposed to in 2011 and 2012.
Nashville
In 2010, a major flood hit Nashville and other towns in Tennessee. At least 11,000 properties were damaged. The mayor of Nashville warned citizens to be careful removing flood debris because of the possibility of asbestos-containing materials being present. The local government recommended bringing in asbestos abatement professionals to handle the cleanup of residential properties.
Tennessee Job Sites With Asbestos Exposure
Some of the companies and entities with asbestos exposure problems in Tennessee are:
- Combustion Engineering
- Thyssen-Dover Elevator
- Erachem Comilog
- Mueller Company Plant
- Evergreen Packaging Company
- American Smelting and Refining Company
Tennessee Asbestos Exposure Laws
The Division of Solid Waste Management in Tennessee administers the laws related to asbestos exposure and abatement. (TN.gov). State laws dovetail with those of the EPA to protect citizens from airborne contaminants such as asbestos.
All demolition and asbestos renovation activities must be conducted by licensed and trained contractors in the state. While homeowners are not required to hire asbestos abatement professionals when renovating their own home, it is strongly recommended to prevent dangerous asbestos exposure.
Tennessee Mesothelioma Attorneys
If you worked in manufacturing or industrial companies in Tennessee and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation because of asbestos exposure. Below are three reputable asbestos exposure attorneys to consider:
Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers
735 Broad Street, Suite 800
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
(423) 933-2738
www.summersfirm.com
A mesothelioma diagnosis is extremely serious, and it is made worse by the fact that the cancer is usually preventable. If you have this terrible cancer and were exposed to asbestos at work, the attorneys at Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers can help you obtain the mesothelioma compensation you need.
Hawkins Bingham & Miller
1397 East Center Street
Kingsport, Tennessee, 37664
(423) 398-6841
www.tnaccidentlawyers.com
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition and worked for a company in Tennessee that exposed you to asbestos, talk to the attorneys at Hawkins Bingham & Miller today. They have experience with asbestos litigation cases and can quickly determine if you have a strong case.
Fox & Farley Attorneys At Law
424 Church Street, Suite 2000
Clinton, Tennessee, 37716
(615) 651-7349
www.foxandfarleylaw.com
These Tennessee personal injury mesothelioma attorneys have years of experience representing asbestos exposure victims. They know how difficult a mesothelioma diagnosis is, as well as the health and financial difficulties you face. Contact them today and put their legal expertise in asbestos exposure cases to work for you.
Request Tennessee Mesothelioma Legal Help
With over $30 billion available for victims through asbestos bankruptcy trust funds, you are entitled to financial compensations without ever filing an asbestos, lung cancer or mesothelioma lawsuit. You need legal representation to get started. Mesothelioma & lung cancer victims qualify immediately. Complete the form or call us toll-free (800) 352-0871 immediately.
