Asbestos Lawyer: Los Angeles

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Asbestos, once hailed as being a ‘miracle mineral,’ is a deadly substance. Once its microscopic fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled or ingested by those in proximity, leading to a range of serious health issues. 

Asbestosis and other asbestos-related lung diseases (including lung cancer) are common outcomes of prolonged exposure, as well as a particularly aggressive form of cancer called mesothelioma. While researchers cannot pinpoint exactly what level of exposure causes health issues, the general consensus is that no amount of asbestos exposure is deemed safe. 

Some cities are at higher risk of asbestos exposure.

Due to the prevalence of certain (previously) asbestos-heavy industries, as well as the presence of naturally occurring asbestos, some cities and states experience a higher incidence of asbestos-related disease and death than others. Los Angeles is one of those cities. 

California’s grim history of shipyard asbestos exposure

Throughout much of the 20th century, the dangers of asbestos exposure were not broadly known or understood, and countless industries utilized the ‘miracle mineral’ to manufacture a vast array of products. Asbestos was championed for its heat resistant, highly durable, and fireproof qualities, making it the ‘perfect’ material for a wide range of commercial applications. 

Hazardous asbestos products were used throughout the shipping industry.

During this time, especially from the 1940s through to the late 1970s, asbestos was commonly used throughout the marine industry, with shipyards and U.S. Navy marine repair facilities featuring an abundance of asbestos-containing products. Marine cables, insulation, piping, and many more marine components featured the toxic mineral. 

With the third longest coastline in America, California features many prominent shipyards. The state was also one of the leading producers of asbestos-containing products and materials, supplying the Navy and many other industries.

The leading state for asbestos-related deaths is California.

California is the leading state for asbestos-related deaths, with 27,080 reportedly occurring between 1999 and 2017. Research published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has also outlined findings of 21,338 asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2013 – with mesothelioma being recorded as the cause of death in 18% (3,997) of those cases.

L.A. not all glitz and showbiz

Los Angeles is typically associated with the show business industry; understandably so, with Hollywood in its midst. What many don’t realize, however, is that L.A. itself is a key American port city, home to many sizable operations, once including Todd Pacific Shipyards. 

Los Angeles ports are one of its largest industries.

L.A.’s port industry generates a considerable amount of business and jobs for the city, with 134,000 jobs created by the Port of Los Angeles. Sadly, the county’s prominent port industry has contributed to L.A.’s asbestos-related death toll of an estimated 4,979 between 1999 and 2017, equating to an average of 262 asbestos-related deaths each year. 

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If you may have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your healthcare provider about tests and screening to help detect the presence of asbestos fibers and asbestos-related damage.

Long Beach Shipyard contained asbestos products and materials.

Long Beach Shipyard is now closed, but for decades, many workers (like all shipyard workers of that time) were exposed to asbestos in vast quantities; boilers, hull manufacture, fireproofing, etc. These components and so much more were part of shipbuilding, repair and maintenance, leaving virtually every type of worker prone to inhaling or ingesting airborne asbestos fibers as part of their working day. 

Do You Qualify For Compensation?

Quickly and easily find out how you were exposed by searching W.A.R.D., the largest asbestos database on the planet.

Silver Screen ‘snow’ not so magic

While the prevalence of asbestos in construction and maritime industries has become commonly understood, many are not as aware of just how varied its applications once were. 

The heart of showbiz in L.A.’s Hollywood was once teeming with asbestos-containing products, with movie sets utilizing its incredible heat and fireproofing properties in a variety of ways. As well as the buildings and movie sets being constructed and insulated with asbestos products, ‘asbestos snow’ was commonly used to replicate snow in movie scenes. 

Legendary silver screen moments in movies such as the Wizard of Oz (1939) and It’s a Wonderful Life (1942) feature 100% pure chrysotile asbestos falling down upon the beloved actors of their generation; sadly, the actors and movie industry workers of the time had no idea how deadly the product would prove to be. 

Some LA celebrities developed asbestos-related illnesses.

Steve McQueen

Some particularly prominent celebrities of the era were diagnosed with mesothelioma, and died from the disease. Steve McQueen was one such star – making it very clear in his last years that he blamed repeated exposure to the asbestos-containing stunt suits and stage insulations for his illness. 

Warren Zevon

Musician Warren Zevon is another notable case; although he never worked around asbestos, his mesothelioma diagnosis and subsequent death has been the source of some scrutiny, as he led a famously ‘rock n’ roll’ lifestyle. 

Nevertheless, while mesothelioma can be accelerated by smoking, its only original cause is asbestos exposure. Since Zevon’s death, his son, Jordan, has spoken out about the lesser-known risks associated with asbestos, recounting stories from his dad of days on the road where the band would bang on asbestos-coated ceiling pipes and the like while killing time in clubs across the country; pipes covered in slowly degrading asbestos that would cause its fibers to become airborne once disturbed. 

Residential and commercial buildings of L.A.

In addition to the above industry-specific asbestos exposure issues that have plagued L.A. over the years, the area’s older homes and commercial premises will still feature asbestos just as those across the country do. 

The Los Angeles real estate industry is a vital part of the city, but many older buildings still contain asbestos.

Real estate is one of California’s largest industries, especially in Los Angeles in particular. Many of the old buildings in classic neighborhoods like Los Feliz, Laurel Canyon, Echo Park and Silverlake will likely still feature asbestos, unless extreme renovations have been carried out. 

Asbestos-containing construction materials made their way deep into building structures for much of the 20th century – with a house built in the 1920s or 1930s being extremely likely to contain asbestos. 

Contractors frequently used asbestos-containing materials such as:

• Cement sheets

• Ceiling tiles

• Roof shingles

• Vinyl floor tiles

• Insulation to boilers, furnaces, pipes, ducts, etc.

• Attic insulation

• Wall insulation

• Textured ceilings (popcorn ceilings) and other paint finishes

• Carpet underlay

While the dangers of asbestos were becoming more widely understood, there is still a good chance that any house built before 1975 will feature asbestos. 

Many homeowners and potential buyers falsely assume that their properties are safe from asbestos, particularly following a home inspection. What many don’t realize, is that most home inspections don’t include any testing for asbestos, and it’s down to the homeowners and buyers to ensure that any presence of asbestos is identified and assessed for safety or expertly removed before the dwelling can be considered safe regarding asbestos. 

Anyone thinking of buying or renovating a property built any time prior to the 1980s should make sure that it is specifically checked by a qualified asbestos professional before committing to the purchase or commencing works on it. 

Naturally occurring asbestos

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies that naturally occurring asbestos can be found in 42 of the 58 counties within California, most abundantly in and around the counties of San Benito, Monterey, Humboldt, and western El Dorado. 

The EPA has a long history of assessing and minimizing asbestos risks in California, including areas such as Santa Clara, Fresno, Calaveras, San Mateo, and Los Angeles.

Chrysotile asbestos is a type of serpentine mineral, which is also California’s state rock.

The most common type of naturally occurring asbestos found in the state of California is a serpentine variety called Chrysotile – the California state rock itself is serpentine, which just goes to show how commonly it appears in California’s geologic formations. Other types, including tremolite and actinolite can also be found.

California’s Department of Conservation provides a comprehensive report on the areas most likely to contain naturally occurring asbestos. Only a small number of other U.S. regions feature similar amounts of naturally occurring asbestos, including the state of Alaska, Washington and Virginia. 

Asbestos abatement In Los Angeles

Given that most buildings constructed before the mid 1980s are likely to feature asbestos-containing materials, it’s vital to understand the health implications of being exposed to it and how to remedy it. 

Avoiding asbestos exposure from an old building

Most products containing asbestos will likely pose no threat so long as they are left undisturbed; only when the material is degrading and/or disturbed, do the fibers become airborne with the potential for them to be inhaled or ingested. 

There are many L.A.-based asbestos abatement services available online, and L.A. County’s published asbestos regulations and accompanying Fact Sheet also include information regarding contacting the Public Health Department, having damaged asbestos tested in your home, and finding certified businesses to conduct containment and removal services. 

The importance of hiring a licensed and experienced professional for asbestos abatement

It’s also important to note that the law often requires individuals to take the necessary steps to identify and assess asbestos dangers on their premises (including testing for the presence of asbestos fibers in the air). It’s not enough to stick your head in the sand – if someone suffers an asbestos-related injury while on your premises, you may be held liable. 

Reliable services from an experienced professional aren’t always cheap. Fortunately, having a proper certification from a licensed asbestos abatement company can make it easier to sell your property in Los Angeles. Furthermore, the public health dangers and legal liability make it a no-brainer.

Final thoughts

It’s not all doom and gloom – while L.A. does have more asbestos risks than you may have previously understood, there is greater awareness than ever, and plenty of options for having asbestos tested and removed – it’s just important to understand the risks and remain cautious.