Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lung and abdominal lining caused by asbestos exposure. The most common type of the disease is pleural mesothelioma that forms in the lining of the lungs. (Cancer.org)
Occupational asbestos exposure is the usual cause of malignant mesothelioma. It is diagnosed in about 2,500 to 3,000 people per year, and some of them live in Iowa. According to CDC statistics, 432 Iowa residents died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2015. (CDC.gov).
Linn and Polk counties in Iowa had the most asbestos-related deaths from 1999 to 2013 in the state, according to the CDC. It is estimated Polk County had 285 asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2017, while Linn County had 276. (asbestosnation.org)
Asbestos Exposure in Linn and Polk Counties, Iowa
Iowa does not have any naturally-occurring asbestos deposits, but there were many industries in Linn and Polk counties that exposed workers to asbestos:
Power Plants
Power plant employees often worked with asbestos-containing materials daily because its heat and chemical resistance made it a perfect material for electrical processes. Iowa Electric Light & Power Company, Cedar Rapids Electric Light and Power Company, and Municipal Light & Power Company were three power plants that heavily exposed workers to asbestos.
Some workers were given protective equipment that contained asbestos. While it protected them from heat and fire, it exposed them to asbestos.
Agriculture
Iowa is second in the country in agricultural production, and Linn and Polk counties are leading the state in the production of various crops. Both counties have rich, productive soil.
Even though there is no risk of natural asbestos exposure in either country, farm machinery often used various asbestos-containing products, such as gaskets or brake material. Major agricultural suppliers such as the Iowa Farmer Tool Company put many agricultural workers at risk of asbestos exposure.
Manufacturing
Many manufacturers in Iowa used asbestos-containing products, but Fort Dodge had an extensive history of gypsum manufacturing. Gypsum is processed for use in drywall and plaster in many facilities in Iowa, such as the National Gypsum Company, which made many asbestos-containing products.
The heavy use of asbestos coupled with many natural disasters in Iowa put many workers and residents at risk of asbestos exposure.
Chemical Plants
Asbestos is highly durable against chemical reactions so it was an important mineral for many chemical plants in Iowa. Irwin Chemical Company and USI Chemical Company in the state are just two chemical plants that exposed workers to asbestos.
Military
Hundreds of military bases throughout the country had asbestos-containing materials in their buildings, including the US Naval Reserve Aviation Base in Ottumwa, Iowa. Base buildings as well as many military vessels used asbestos-containing products in their construction.
Linn County Sites of Asbestos Exposure
City Rapids is the county seat of Linn County, and these companies are known to have had asbestos contamination problems over the years: (Mesothelioma.com)
- Cargill, Inc.
- Iowa Electric Light & Power Company
- Quaker Oats Company
- Wilson Meat Packing
- Municipal Light & Power Company
- Cedar Rapids Electric Light and Power Company
- Wilsons Foods
- YMCA
- Farmer Tool Company
- Merchants National Bank
- Frank Zobac Construction
- American Cereal Company
- Iowa Manufacturing Company
- Midland Industries
- Iowa Steel & Ironworks
Polk County Sites of Asbestos Exposure
Des Moines is the county seat of Polk County, and the following companies are known to have had asbestos contamination problems over the years:
- Firestone Tire & Rubber Company
- Maytag
- Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corporation
- Bridgestone Firestone
- Archer Daniels Midland
- Iowa Asbestos Company
- Iowa Electric Power & Light
- Northwestern Bell Telephone Company
- Des Moines Electric Company
- Veterans Administration
- Farm Bureau
- Des Moines Brewing Company
Iowa Mesothelioma Attorneys
Many workers in industrial and manufacturing sectors in Linn and Polk counties were exposed to asbestos and eventually developed mesothelioma. If this happened to you, please contact one of the attorneys below:
Luneckas Law
866 First Avenue NE – Suite A
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
(319) 294-8777
www.crlawyers.com
Attorney Darin Luneckas has 20 years of experience as a mesothelioma injury attorney in Cedar Rapids and has worked on many asbestos and mesothelioma-related cases. The firm has the financial resources to hold negligent companies accountable that exposed workers needlessly to asbestos.
See Iowa Mesothelioma Lawsuit Help
Luthens Law
West Towers Building, Suite 304-01
1200 Valey West Drive
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
(515) 222-1697
www.luthenslaw.com
Luthens Law in Des Moines is an experienced personal injury and mesothelioma lawsuit firm that is committed to achieving the ideal financial result for you in the lest time. If you think you have an asbestos-related claim, contact their office today for a complimentary mesothelioma compensation consultation.
Summary
If you lived or worked in Linn or Polk counties in Iowa and were exposed to asbestos, you could be at risk of developing mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition. If so, it is important to talk to a licensed mesothelioma attorney in your area to learn about your legal options.