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Asbestos Exposure in Wisconsin

Many building industries have used asbestos in construction, insulation, demolition, and many other capacities. Wisconsin is the 16th highest in the nation for deaths related to asbestos exposure. Between 1999 and 2013, Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Racine were the top counties in the state for deaths from mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, lung cancer, and asbestosis. This illness occurs when the lungs get scarred due to prolonged irritation from asbestos fibers.

Also, six minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers, asbestos was a popular choice in building and construction materials. Before it was known to be carcinogenic ( a cancer-causing substance) it was an ideal material due to its cost, durability, and heat-resistance.

High-risk Areas

Structures built before the 1970s are likely to have asbestos in some form. It can also be found naturally in the environment, in rock and mineral deposits. High-risk areas in buildings that can contain asbestos include:

  • Air duct coverings
  • Door gaskets
  • Window panels
  • Pipes
  • Insulation
  • Oil, coal furnaces, and door gaskets that have asbestos
  • Insulation
  • Popcorn ceilings
  • Shingles
  • Textured paint and patching compounds
  • Water tanks

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Occupational

Construction, demolition, and renovation jobs are at high risk for exposure. This is because the mineral is at its most dangerous when disturbed. During renovation and construction projects, harmful asbestos fibers can be expelled into the air and potentially inhaled or ingested. High-risk areas in Wisconsin include industrial areas in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Racine areas.
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This is an image representing vermiculite mining.

Vermiculite Mining

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring, popular building material similar to asbestos. A mine in Libby, Montana, distributed a lot of vermiculite ore contaminated with asbestos to processing plants all over the U.S. Much of the Libby vermiculite was utilized in attic insulation and sold as Zonolite. Over 70% of vermiculite ore mined worldwide came from Libby.

Besides receiving contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Penokee Hills in Wisconsin also mined for iron-ore contaminated with asbestos. To top that off, the Lake Superior Region supplies nearly three-quarters of the nation’s iron ore, primarily used for making steel.


This is an image representing industrial factories.

Industrial Factories

W.R. Grace, a large chemical plant in Milwaukee, gathered and utilized the contaminated vermiculite, even after knowing of the danger. Genoa Power Plant is also guilty of exposing its workers to asbestos in the past. Some other places in Wisconsin with public exposure include the Monroe Clinic in Madison, which exposed employees to asbestos from 2008 to 2017. Grede Foundry in Berlin was also linked to asbestos exposure, but they closed the iron foundry down in 2015.


This is an image representing a superfund job site.

Superfund Job Sites

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working towards banning the use of asbestos for years. To aid with enforcing regulations on the proper cleanup and disposal of asbestos, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) was passed in 1986.

Also known as Superfund, CERCLA was put in place so that organizations could be held responsible for promptly cleaning up harmful and toxic substances from their contaminated sites. If the single party or group responsible does not make any effort or come forward about cleaning up the mess, the EPA will assess the situation and take money from the Superfund to put it towards cleaning the site themselves.

The EPA also has a comprehensive list of all its Superfund sites. Sites in Wisconsin include:

  • Kewaunee Marquette School
  • Mole Lake School
  • Ve Carter School Site
  • Zizzo Properties


This is an image representing schools and other aged structures.

Schools And Other Aged Structures

Building structures developed before the 1970s have a high probability of containing asbestos. This makes older homes, school buildings, and other residential properties a high-risk factor if any renovation, demolition, or construction takes place.

Besides the known school superfund sites listed above, a different Wisconsin school discovered asbestos inside their building as well. The school was Yorkville Elementary, located in Racine County. Later in the investigation, however, an outside firm stated that the asbestos tiles found in the elementary school were “low-risk.” If you have any concerns with asbestos in your child’s school, call them and inquire more; they must give you the information.


This is an image representing the military.

Military

The U.S. military was once a large user of asbestos products in the building of military barracks, structures, military vehicles, Navy ships, shipyards, aircraft, and more. Truax Airforce Base in Madison had pipes and other items contaminated with asbestos. Since then, they’ve hired asbestos abatement (removal) services to extract the carcinogen.


This is an image representing environmental exposure.

Environmental

A couple of scientists discovered over 100 pounds of asbestiform grunerite (brown asbestos-containing rock) in an old test pit in eastern Ashland County. In the 1970s, Reserve Mining in Minnesota dumped taconite tailings that contained asbestiform particles into Lake Superior, one of the costliest environmental cleanups in U.S. history. The spill was so massive that asbestos fibers were found in the drinking water from Lake Superior as close as Duluth, Wisconsin.

Regulations Against Asbestos

Since scientists and researchers discovered asbestos was harmful to human health, organizations have begun taking action against the mineral. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the primary agency pushing and enforcing the laws put in place. They even take responsibility for cleaning up contaminated sites.

National Regulations

In 1970, the Clean Air Act (CAA) was passed. It required the EPA to develop and enforce regulations put in place to protect public health. Next, there was a ban on asbestos used in insulation and spray-applied surfacing.

Between 1970 and today, more laws were passed against the distribution and use of asbestos. In 2018, the most recent set of rules was passed, called the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The EPA developed it under the Clean Air Act and is the nation’s stationary source standard for properly handling asbestos removal, demolition, renovation, and construction. These rules keep business owners, contractors, and managers accountable for keeping their employees and residents safe from exposure.

Wisconsin State Laws

Each state has regulations about asbestos and how it should be handled and disposed of. Laws in Wisconsin include:

  • Training and certification requirements for persons performing asbestos abatement (removal)
  • Facility inspection specifics for owners and operators with asbestos in their structures
  • Notice requirement of at least ten days before demolition in any asbestos structure
  • Notice of renovations in asbestos structures
  • Specifics on asbestos emission control, wetting procedures, and waste removal

If the owner or operator of a contaminated structure fails to follow these regulations, they may be fined anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per violation per day.

Legal Recourse for Wisconsin Residents

A patient diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions could be entitled to compensation from the asbestos companies responsible for the exposure. If you decide to take action against these companies, you only have a small window of time to do so. This is called the statute of limitations. In Wisconsin, the statute of limitations for filing a mesothelioma claim is three years after the initial diagnosis.

The person diagnosed has multiple options for filing. Firstly, they could file a personal injury claim, or if the person is already deceased, their family can file a wrongful death suit. Contacting an experienced attorney would prove extremely helpful as they can efficiently navigate the complexities of your case to get you the most benefits available.

Treatment Centers Near Wisconsin

Having a medical professional who has treated other cancer patients can be very helpful since asbestos-related conditions can sometimes look like other illnesses. Your doctor will also have good information on treatment, life expectancy, and more from similar patients they may have had. Here are cancer treatment centers in or near Wisconsin:

In Wisconsin

  • University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Main #: (608) 263 8600

Illinois

  • Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center | Northwestern University
    Chicago, Illinois
    Main #: (312) 695 0990
  • The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Chicago, Illinois
    Main #: 1 (855) 702 8222

Iowa

  • Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center | University of Iowa
    Iowa City, Iowa
    Cancer Information Service: 1 (800) 237 1225
    Appointments and Referrals: (319) 356 4200

Minnesota

  • Masonic Cancer Center
    Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Cancer Information Line: (612) 624 2620
  • Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
    Rochester, Minnesota
    Main #: 1 (507) 284 2511

What Next?

Asbestos can be found all around the world and is best avoided if it’s in a disturbed state. We have a lot of helpful resources on asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, treatment, and more in our free guide. Download it in seconds to learn more about it.

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