Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in Delaware

01. Statistics

Delaware Mesothelioma and Asbestos Statistics

Delaware does not have much naturally occurring asbestos, but the mineral is a big threat to workers in various industries throughout the state, especially chemical plants.

• From 1999-2015, 164 Delaware residents died from mesothelioma
• Delaware has a mesothelioma mortality rate of about 11 people per million (Source: CDC)
• New Castle, Sussex, and Kent counties had the most asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2015 (Source: CDC)
• Delaware has only one known deposit of natural asbestos in New Castle County, known as the Mount Cuba serpentine body (Source: USGS)

02. Asbestos in Workplaces

Asbestos Exposure in Delaware Workplaces

While Delaware does not have a large occurrence of natural asbestos, several industries used the mineral in their facilities and processes.

Chemical Plants:

Delaware was home for many chemical plants, like the infamous E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company. Because of the high heat and chemical resistance of asbestos, it was often used in these facilities’ equipment and production lines.

Construction:

Asbestos was used in construction heavily throughout the country for decades, but is an especially big concern for construction workers repairing any of the historic buildings in Delaware.

Manufacturing:

Ludlow Manufacturing and other companies used asbestos often in their facilities and processes because of its durability and heat resistance.

Oil Refineries:

Equipment in oil refineries relied heavily on asbestos materials to resist the high heat used and chemical processes. Companies like the Getty Oil Refinery in Delaware City put workers in the facilities and maintenance workers at risk of exposure.

Military:

Veterans face a high risk for mesothelioma because asbestos was used frequently on bases and for building navy vessels. Veterans in Delaware faced asbestos exposure at bases such as Dover Air Force Base, which was later added to the Superfund list.

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03. Superfund Sites

Asbestos Superfund Sites and Shipyards in Delaware

Though Delaware does not have any shipyards with an exposure risk, the state has had several sites added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list over the years. Among the many environmental concerns, two sites also demonstrated contamination from asbestos.

E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company

This 120-acre site in Delaware was just part of DuPont’s corporation. DuPont, one of the world’s largest chemical companies today, bought this plant in 1929 after a previous Newport manufacturer of zinc and barium pigments. DuPont maintained the facilities for manufacturing pigments and various other chemicals. As a result, the site was contaminated with decades of industrial waste, including heavy metals and asbestos, and was considered one of the worst toxic sites in the nation. The site was added to the Superfund list in 1990 after many evaluations by the EPA through the 1980s. DuPont worked with the EPA and the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control throughout the cleanup process, and were able to restore 9 acres of wetland. The cleanup efforts ended in 2002, though the EPA and local agencies continue to monitor the site. The corporation itself still runs today with headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

Dover Air Force Base

This 3,700 acre property in Dover contained 23 sites used for dumping industrial waste. Between 1951 and 1970, the EPA estimated over 23,000 cubic feet of waste accumulated on the site, including solvents, fuel, and asbestos materials. Groundwater and neighboring streams were heavily contaminated as a result of decades of waste not being properly managed. The site was listed in 1989, and cleanup efforts have been ongoing ever since. All areas of the site will be undergoing long-term monitoring to ensure the remediation efforts continue to protect those living on base and the neighboring communities.

04. Exposure in Cities

Asbestos Exposure in Delaware Cities

Asbestos exposure on the job is known to have occurred in the following Delaware cities. Prolonged asbestos exposure can cause the terminal cancer mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Click on any city below to view a complete list of commercial, military and residential job sites where asbestos exposure occurred in that city.

• Wilmington

05. Other Work Sites

Asbestos Exposure at Other Delaware Job Sites

Workplace asbestos exposure is also a concern if one looks beyond the major cities and towns in Delaware. Select a town below to see the list of its job sites known to have exposed workers to asbestos. Asbestos exposure at any one of the job sites revealed could have placed a worker at risk to develop mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases.