Asbestos Exposure in North Dakota Homes

Asbestos In North Dakota

Though North Dakota hasn’t had a lot of cases of asbestos-related illnesses, exposure happens throughout different parts of the state. An increased risk of exposure in North Dakota typically happens in homes and at job sites.

Almost all homes built before 1970 once contained or still contain the toxin. Common places around the home that may contain the toxin are tile flooring, popcorn ceilings, textured paints, insulation, roof shingles, or soil. Cities in North Dakota with possible exposure to asbestos include:

• Alsen
• Ashley
• Beach
• Bismarck
• Bottineau
• Casselton
• Devils Lake
• Dickinson
• Fargo
• Grafton
• Grand Forks
• Halliday
• Hazen
• Hebron
• Jamestown
• Killdeer
• Mandan
• Minot
• New Rockford
• Valley City
• Watford City
• Williston

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in North Dakota

The various benefits of the mineral, including strength, insulation, and fire resistance, influenced companies to include it in the construction of industrial buildings between the 1940s and the 1970s.

Several job sites across North Dakota were responsible for exposure. Common places around job sites where the toxin was used include air ducts, insulation around boilers, ceiling tiles, cement roofs, sprayed ceilings or beams, and water tanks.

Exposure happened at workplaces where people with multiple job skills came into contact. North Dakota occupations with asbestos exposure hazards include:

• Agricultural workers and farmers
• Construction workers
• Industrial plant workers
• Insulators
• Oil refinery workers
• Power generation workers

Exposure From Minot Flooding

North Dakota experienced record-flooding in the summer of 2011. Thousands of homes were damaged from contaminated water in the city of Minot and surrounding areas. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned residents of exposure to the toxin through contaminated water flooding homes and buildings.

Fibers from materials containing the toxin were washed away in the floodwaters, which eventually contaminated the community. Homes in North Dakota often contained the toxin in insulation, floor tile, popcorn ceilings, textured paint, and roof cement, which were some of the materials that contaminated surrounding areas after the natural disaster occurred.

Erionite in North Dakota

While deposits of the toxin aren’t mined in North Dakota, a similar substance, called erionite, naturally occurs throughout the state. The mineral, in which its chemical structure is similar to asbestos, may cause higher rates of mesothelioma, according to a study from the National Academy of Sciences.

North Dakota residents come into contact with erionite through the gravel on hundreds of miles of roadways, specifically in Dunn County. Disturbing or driving on the gravel causes its fibers to become airborne, which people may inhale. Exposure can happen at bus stops, inside vehicles, bicycling, or walking.

Asbestos Shipments to North Dakota

W.R. Grace is a conglomerate company liable for exposing an entire community to the toxin in Libby, Montana. The company was founded by William Russell Grace in 1854 and originally produced fertilizer and machinery, but quickly got involved with shipping, banking, oil, healthcare, and mining. Mining operations included silver, clay, phosphate, tin, and ore.

The company shipped several million tons of ore across the United States from its mines in Libby. Shipments of the ore contained trace amounts of asbestos. Between 1948 and 1993, North Dakota received nearly 26,000 tons of contaminated ore from Libby. Several cities throughout the state, including Stanton, Minot, Center, and Bismarck received the toxin in over 300 shipments.

The former Robinson Insulation Plant was located in Minot, North Dakota, where workers were surrounded by hazardous levels of the toxin. For almost two decades, the plant processed over 16,000 tons of contaminated vermiculite from Libby, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. The plant was also surrounded by other residential, commercial, and industrial sites.

Disposal Sites In North Dakota

Some landfills in New Hampshire are permitted to accept the carcinogen. While it’s illegal to throw away products that contain asbestos without proper packaging, working at or visiting these landfills can lead to airborne exposure. North Dakota landfills that accept the toxin include:

Legal Help for North Dakota Residents

If you have mesothelioma as a result of negligent exposure to asbestos, you can file a lawsuit against one or more companies liable for your exposure. The national average of years someone can file a personal injury lawsuit, according to the according to the statute of limitations, is about three and a half years. North Dakota residents, however, have six years to file a claim after a diagnosis.

Surviving family members, including children, spouses, parents, and siblings, may file a wrongful death claim within two years after their loved one passed away. Hiring a lawyer can help you identify the company or companies responsible, help you receive as much compensation as possible, and ensure the appropriate suits are filed.