Pennsylvania Asbestos Exposure

Pennsylvania consistently ranks among the top five states in America most at risk for asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can lead to diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos lung cancer.

A 14-year study of asbestos-related deaths places Pennsylvania at third in the nation. In 2019, more than 2,300 people in Pennsylvania died from a condition caused by occupational exposure to asbestos.

Pennsylvania asbestos exposure rates are high because of its history as a hub for steelmaking, manufacturing, mining and shipbuilding. These professions put workers in contact with asbestos and products containing asbestos.

Pennsylvania is also home to several military bases and Naval shipyards. Exposure can occur via military occupations. It can also happen through contact with asbestos-containing materials in older buildings and on older bases.

Pennsylvania mesothelioma diagnoses and deaths

According to CDC data regarding mesothelioma incidence, Pennsylvania ranked:

• Third highest in the U.S. for rate of mesothelioma diagnoses in proportion to population (1999 – 2022)
• Fourth highest in the U.S. for overall count of mesothelioma diagnoses (1999 – 2022)

According to CDC data regarding mesothelioma deaths, Pennsylvania ranked:

• Third highest in the U.S. for rate of mesothelioma-related deaths in proportion to population (1999 – 2020)
• Third highest in the U.S. for overall count of mesothelioma deaths (1999 – 2020)

Asbestos-related health risks

Inhalation of asbestos fibers is linked to an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. These include asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods. Those exposed may not develop symptoms or receive a diagnosis until 10 to 40 years post contact with asbestos. If you have recently been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, you may be eligible for a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawsuit, even if it has been decades since you worked around asbestos.

Is asbestos legal in Pennsylvania?

Asbestos is not fully banned in Pennsylvania or the U.S. at large, but its use is regulated at the state and federal levels.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned most new uses of asbestos in 1989 under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). However, a new final rule was established in 2019 that may allow some uses back into the market. These uses must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the EPA.

Additionally, the U.S. still imports asbestos, and asbestos is still used in some products and applications. In 2024, the country consumed 110 tons of the substance.

At the federal level, occupational exposure to asbestos is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The EPA also has standards for minimizing asbestos emissions in various applications. These standards apply to building demolition and renovation, manufacturing and waste management.

Pennsylvania asbestos exposure is further regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The department sets standards for the collection, transportation and disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in public buildings. It also regulates apartment buildings with five or more units. In some instances, these PA asbestos rules are stricter than federal regulations.

Though federal and commonwealth laws restrict asbestos use, contact with asbestos in the workplace can still occur. Additionally, several industries may have exposed workers before regulations were in place.

Asbestos at construction sites, industrial sites and other workplaces can also lead to exposure. Household exposure can occur through contaminated building materials. Secondhand exposure occurs when workers accidentally bring asbestos home on their clothing or tools. And contaminated sites can cause environmental exposure.

The following occupations can put workers at a higher risk of asbestos exposure. Exposure risk may also be higher for people living in older buildings, people living with workers exposed to asbestos and people living near contaminated industrial sites.

Asbestos mining and manufacturing

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in rocks and soil. It is present in many locations across Pennsylvania. Historically, Pennsylvania is home to four previous asbestos mining sites. These mines include the Ambler asbestos piles Superfund site.

The 25-acre Ambler asbestos piles consisted of three asbestos waste piles and a series of backfilled lagoons from the Ambler, Pennsylvania, asbestos mine. Due to air, soil, sediment and surface water contamination, the piles were added to the EPA Superfund Program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. After clean-up efforts, the EPA took the site off the NPL in 1996.

Amber was also the location of the BoRit Superfund site. This site was a 25-foot-high pile of asbestos waste left by an asbestos products manufacturing plant between 1900 and 1960. BoRit was added to the NPL in 2009. The EPA has finished cleaning the site, but maintenance and monitoring continue.

Anyone who worked in asbestos mining, manufacturing or milling at these or other Pennsylvania locations may have been exposed. Employees who worked during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, before many asbestos regulations were in place, may be especially at risk. The sites may also pose an exposure risk to those living nearby.

Coal mines

Pennsylvania has had active coal mines since the late 1700s. There are still active mines in 21 counties in the commonwealth. Coal miners in Pennsylvania can be exposed to asbestos through mining equipment that contains asbestos.

Construction

Many products containing asbestos were once widely used in building construction, including:

• Attic and wall insulation
• Oil and coal furnace gaskets
• Pipe wraps
• Roofing and siding shingles
• Textured paint
• Vinyl flooring
• Wall patching compounds

Workers can be exposed to asbestos fibers during demolition, repairs or remodels involving older buildings and older construction materials. They can also be exposed through construction vehicles and equipment.

Shipbuilding

Through World War II, the Cold War and into the 1990s, the U.S. used tens of millions of pounds of asbestos annually in shipbuilding. Shipyard workers employed during this time, or those who work on ships built during this time, are at risk for exposure.

Shipyards where Pennsylvania asbestos exposure occurred may include:

• Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company
• Hanwha Philly Shipyard
• Hog Island Shipyard
• Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company

Steel manufacturing

Products containing asbestos were once used in steelmaking and may still be present in steel mills. These products include brakes, gaskets, insulation materials, refractory materials and protective cloth.

Some Pennsylvania steel mills have been designated Superfund sites due to contamination. These sites include:

• Allan Wood Steel Company in Upper Merion Township
• Recticon/Allied Steel Corp site in East Coventry Township
• Sharon Steel Corp in Mercer County

The EPA also targeted the site of the former Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Plant for cleanup.

Utility companies

People who work in power plants may be at risk for asbestos exposure through materials designed to resist heat and electricity. These include insulation, gaskets and pipe coatings. Utility companies where workers might be exposed include:

• Harrisburg Light & Power Co.
• Keystone Power Plant
• Pennsylvania Light & Power Co.

If you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos, you may be able to file an asbestos lawsuit directly against an asbestos manufacturer. You could also be eligible to seek damages through a bankruptcy settlement trust claim.

Bankruptcy trust claims compensate victims through trust funds established by dozens of now-bankrupt asbestos companies. Because asbestos-related diseases have such a long latency period, injured parties continue to file claims against these trusts to this day.

Some Pennsylvania asbestos companies with trusts include Pittsburgh Corning, Nicolet, Inc. and the Johns-Manville Corporation.

Motley Rice’s Pennsylvania asbestos lawyers have experience with asbestos lawsuits and bankruptcy settlement trust claims. If you are eligible to take legal action, we could help you build your case and seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical expenses and lost wages.

Who’s eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit?

If you were in contact with asbestos and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible for an asbestos lawsuit. You may also be eligible if your loved one died from an asbestos-related disease.

To qualify for asbestos litigation, you typically must have:

• Medical evidence that you or your loved one was diagnosed with asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer or another asbestos-related condition
• Evidence proving you or your loved one was exposed to asbestos at work or through secondary exposure, household exposure, product exposure or environmental contamination
• File your claim within Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, which limits your time to take legal action and generally starts running at the time of your diagnosis

Motley Rice’s Pennsylvania asbestos lawyers are reviewing new asbestos claims. If you have questions about your eligibility, contact us to discuss your legal options.

For decades, Motley Rice and its attorneys have taken leadership roles in asbestos litigation. We understand the toll an asbestos-related illness can take on you and your family and are passionate about holding companies accountable for actions that harm workers, consumers and the environment.

Our asbestos lawsuit case history includes:

• Asbestos in Canada
• Cox v. A&I Company
• Merchant Marines
• Travelers Co.

Our Pennsylvania asbestos exposure lawyers have offices in Philadelphia, PA. Contact us today to discuss your case. Fill out our online form or call 1.800.768.4026.

Read more about our asbestos exposure litigation experience.