California Asbestos Exposure

California had the highest number of asbestos-related deaths in the U.S. in 2019, with 3,151 fatalities. Asbestos-related deaths may be due to asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma or other conditions.

Before the 1980s, asbestos was frequently used in California’s industrial, military and construction industries. Jobs with a high risk for asbestos exposure include construction, shipbuilding, mining and manufacturing.

California mesothelioma diagnoses and deaths

According to CDC data regarding mesothelioma incidence, California ranked highest in the U.S. for the number of mesothelioma diagnoses, with 7,736 diagnoses from 1999 to 2022.

However, this is below the national rate of mesothelioma diagnoses in proportion to population:

• Nationally, 10 people per 1 million are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
• In California, 9 people per 1 million are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

According to CDC data regarding mesothelioma deaths, California ranked highest in the U.S. for the number of mesothelioma deaths, with 5,484 deaths from 1999 to 2020.

However, this is below the national rate of mesothelioma deaths in proportion to population:

• Nationally, 8 people per 1 million die of mesothelioma.
• In California, 7 people per 1 million die of mesothelioma.

Asbestos-related health risks

Asbestos fibers can be released into the air when asbestos-containing minerals or materials are disturbed during product use, demolition work, or building maintenance, remodeling or repair. Breathing in these fibers over prolonged periods can lead to asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These conditions can take decades to develop and can cause severe symptoms. The symptoms are often irreversible. Asbestos poses less of a threat if the asbestos-containing materials are not disturbed.

Workplace exposure to asbestos in California can occur in various work environments, including landfills, military bases, oil rigs and refineries, power generating stations and shipyards.

Landfills

Some California landfills are known sources of asbestos contamination. South Bay Asbestos Area near San Jose, a Superfund site, includes three landfills that acquired asbestos-containing materials from a cement pipe manufacturing plant. Superfund sites are abandoned locations contaminated with asbestos from industrial operations or natural deposits that require long-term cleanup by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Military bases

Military bases, naval shipyards and navy ships used asbestos products liberally throughout the 20th century. Numerous California military bases contain asbestos in buildings, shipyards and infrastructure, especially bases used between the 1930s and the 1980s. Some California military bases known for asbestos contamination include Alameda Point (formerly NAS Alameda), Naval Base San Diego, and Long Beach and San Francisco Bay Naval Shipyards. Alameda Point was found to be heavily contaminated with asbestos related to shipbuilding and repair, and was placed on the EPA Superfund Site list in 1999.

Oil rigs and refineries

Aging, asbestos-containing materials are present in many of California’s active offshore oil rigs and refineries. The Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington, CA, closed at the end of 2025. An estimated $205 million will be spent to cover infrastructure and asbestos removal.

Power generating stations

Asbestos was widely used in California power generating stations, specifically in electrical components, insulation, pipe packing and turbines. Older sites, including the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, have required extensive removal of asbestos-containing materials from cables, insulation and building materials. Multimillion-dollar asbestos remediation at Etiwanda Generating Station in Rancho Cucamonga was completed in 2022.

Shipyards

There are numerous major shipyards along the California coastline (although many no longer operate), and shipyard workers are at high risk for workplace asbestos exposure. For decades, shipyards like Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation incorporated asbestos in the boilers, engines, electrical panels, insulation, pipes and gaskets of ships.

California has an extremely large incidence of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA), and asbestos is present in a minimum of 44 of California’s 58 counties. NOA is contained in serpentinite and other rock formations and geological deposits throughout the Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges and the Klamath Mountain range in Northern and Central California. NOA is present in serpentine, the California state rock.

Decades after the dangers of asbestos became known, certain California workers may still be at risk for asbestos exposure. These workers include:

• Boilermakers
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• HVAC technicians
• Insulators
• Mechanics
• Naval servicemembers
• Pipefitters
• Plumbers
• Sailors
• Sheet metal workers
• Shipyard workers
• Steamfitters
• Welders

Most California workers at risk for asbestos exposure are employed in the construction sector, where most asbestos products were used and may still be in use. Workers engaged in remodeling or demolishing older buildings can be especially prone to asbestos exposure.

Building materials used in aging structures, particularly those built before the 1980s, likely used asbestos-containing caulking compounds, ceiling products, drywall, ducts and pipes, insulation, shingles, siding and vinyl flooring.

Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the ban of consumer patching compounds containing asbestos in 1977, homes constructed before 1981 likely contain asbestos. The mineral might also be present in homes built after 1989, since some imported construction materials might still contain asbestos.

California regulates asbestos abatement and removal to help limit the risk of exposure. Abatement must be conducted by licensed and certified asbestos professionals, and those who remove and dispose of asbestos-containing materials must comply with strict guidelines. Cal/OSHA regulates asbestos-related work in California.

Compensation for asbestos-related harms may be available through an asbestos lawsuit, an administrative claim or a bankruptcy trust. To file an asbestos lawsuit in California, claimants typically must provide:

• Medical documentation confirming a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease.
• Exposure history identifying where, when and how they came into contact with asbestos-containing materials.
• Timely filing within the applicable statute of limitations, which may start upon diagnosis or discovery of the illness.

An asbestos attorney might be able to help you establish a connection between your illness and a specific product, employer or job site.

For decades, Motley Rice attorneys have been at the forefront of asbestos litigation. Our law firm has a track record of holding companies accountable for personal injuries and wrongful deaths caused by asbestos exposure and asbestos-related diseases. Our asbestos lawsuit experience includes:

• Asbestos in Canada
• Asbestos and the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)
• Household Asbestos Exposure
• Johns-Manville
• Merchant Marine asbestos exposure
• Talcum powder
• Travelers Co.

If you or someone you love has an asbestos-related disease, contact a Motley Rice asbestos lawyer to discuss your legal options. Fill out our online form or call 1.843.703.1127.

Read more on our asbestos exposure litigation experience.