According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 457 people died from exposure to asbestos in Iowa from 1979 to 2001. Polk County, home to Des Moines, suffered the highest number of deaths at 68. Linn County, home to Cedar Rapids, and the smaller communities of Marion, Hiawatha, and Robins, was second. Because asbestos takes years or even decades to affect the body and patients do not typically demonstrate symptoms of an asbestos-related illness for many years, it is likely that a high number of asbestos-related deaths will continue to occur in Iowa.
If you or a loved one has mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) due to asbestos exposure while working in Iowa, attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason can help. Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of success. We understand the stressful and complicated mesothelioma legal process. Our expert lawyers have the tools and knowledge to determine the specifics of your exposure to asbestos. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their heirs, if that person has passed away. Our attorneys provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation, and there is no up front cost to you for our services.
Industries in Iowa where workers may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos include power plants, chemical plants and construction. Iowa has power plants in the cities of Carroll, Lansing, Sioux City, Tipton, Storm Lake, Pleasant Hill and Palo.
Asbestos exposure was almost unavoidable in power plants built prior to 1980. Due to its insulating and fire-retardant qualities, power plants used asbestos to protect equipment operating in high temperatures, such as boilers, generators and turbines. Pumps and valves were often sealed with asbestos containing gaskets, and pipes were insulated with asbestos. Power plants tended to have fireproof roof structures and floors, and asbestos was the material of choice. When floors and ceilings were repaired, asbestos dust was distributed throughout the powerhouse, putting everyone at risk for asbestos inhalation. Additionally, power plant workers often wore clothing made from asbestos fibers to protect them from the intense heat created during power generation.
Asbestos was widely used in chemical plants because of its heat and fire-resistant properties and its heightened resistance to chemical degradation. Employees at chemical plants may have come in contact with asbestos on work surfaces, wrapped around pipes, or even in their protective gear, including gloves and face masks.
Another high risk industry for asbestos exposure in Iowa is construction. Before the dangers of asbestos were made public, asbestos was widely used as a fire retardant in wallboard, insulation, roofing materials and floor tiles. If proper safety procedures are not followed when buildings are demolished or updated, such as dampening asbestos-containing materials, wearing disposable protective clothing and avoiding the use of power tools, construction workers can be exposed to harmful asbestos fibers.
If you or members of your family have been affected by asbestos cancer in Iowa or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Our mesothelioma attorneys are experts in mesothelioma cancer lawsuits. We have over thirty years of experience providing mesothelioma legal representation to clients across the United States. We will provide a free case evaluation and can fly to Iowa to meet with you in person.
If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, visit our list of Iowa mesothelioma doctors. Mesothelioma attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are here to help.
Call our attorneys for a free case evaluation today.