Houston, Texas has many sources of potential asbestos exposure, including some of the city’s older water mains.

Learn about where asbestos exposure occurs in Houston and what to do about it.

The people of Houston, Texas, could be at risk of asbestos exposure. In 2012, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) confirmed that workers in Houston came into contact with the toxin while repairing the city’s water mains the year before – a classic example of how asbestos could still be lurking in the city’s infrastructure.     

Until the 1970s, asbestos continued to be used in many common building materials such as insulation, roofing and ceiling tiles. Construction and factory workers were commonly exposed. The microscopic fibers are difficult to see and have no odor or taste, making asbestos practically invisible until symptoms arise. These symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath and wheezing. Eventually, mesothelioma, lung and other cancers are common. 

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If you may have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your healthcare provider about tests and screening to help detect the presence of asbestos fibers and asbestos-related damage.

Asbestos exposure is still a problem (including in Houston, TX).

It wasn’t until 1989 that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was successful in heavily regulating the toxin. Because, for years, the federal government did not officially recognize deaths related to asbestos, sadly, many cases went untreated or misdiagnosed. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there have been roughly 1000 deaths annually in Texas as late as from 2015 to 2020. 

Houston History

Founded in 1837, Houston served as the capital of the Republic of Texas and was a major hub for transportation and other services. Now home to over 2 million people, Houston is the largest city in the southern state. A sprawling metropolis, it’s home to many manufacturing, goods, and energy companies.

Houston, we have a problem…

“Houston we have a problem” is a phrase that is often quoted in movies and in television. This is because Houston is home to the iconic Space Center Houston and NASA mission control for the Apollo moon landings. Now a museum filled with over 400 space artifacts such as moon rocks, space samples, and lunar vehicles, it is truly an experience that is out of this world. No wonder Houston has the nickname “Space City”.

Space City is also a lot of fun.

 Houston’s raging nightlife is one that attracts thousands of tourists each year, too. With an extensive collection of unique restaurants, clubs, and theaters, it provides a variety of different must-see experiences. The city is also home to the rodeo roots of country and the smooth jazz scene. 

With so much to do and see in the city, it’s no wonder thousands of tourists schedule a visit each year. Unfortunately, for both those visiting as well as Houston’s residents, fun and festivities mask a frightening asbestos underbelly.

 

Houston Asbestos Resources

Scientists began to realize the dangers of asbestos in the 1920s. However, it was not until the late-‘80s that its deadly effects became public knowledge. And despite what many may think, asbestos is still not entirely banned in the U.S. 

Asbestos still in many products and buildings constructed before the mid-1980s.

Only when environmental laws were passed in the mid-‘70s, did it begin to be replaced with other materials. In some sectors, it’s still used. Lingering asbestos continues to cause illness and fatalities, and in Houston from 1974-2020 there were 525 asbestos exposure-related deaths alone. 

Along with many federal and state resources such as EPA.gov, OSHA.gov, and DSHS.Texas.gov, the city of Houston has companies that offer asbestos removal and cleanup services. The University of Houston has a licensed asbestos safety program that provides the guidance and training needed to recognize exposure and its potential hazards. 

Home to the Texas Medical Center, Houston hails the world’s largest cancer treatment facility. With over 160,000 visitors each day, the center houses some of the brightest minds in medicine as well as some of the most specialized treatments for mesothelioma. If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos, it is best to speak to your doctor about next steps. 

Houston’s Industries carry a high-risk of asbestos exposure.

Due to the major energy and refinery companies located in Texas, and more specifically in Houston, exposure to asbestos has been fairly common. Asbestos-ladened materials were because of their heat resistance. The cost of use and its reliability also helped the mineral grow in popularity. 

Asbestos fibers cause significant health problems, including cancer.

Unfortunately, when aging materials degrade and break down, asbestos particles are released into the air and can be breathed unknowingly. Attaching itself easily to clothing, the toxin not only impacts workers in the field, but their loved ones as well.

 

Do You Qualify For Compensation?

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It wasn’t just plant workers that would be exposed to asbestos, either. Automotive, shipyard, and construction workers have all historically been at risk. Roofing, insulation, and automotive parts such as brake pads and car liners all contained asbestos at one point, and many of these goods still do. 

1 in 5

In studies of asbestos disease, 1 in 5 cases of asbestos exposure were caused by secondary asbestos exposure.1

First responders in the Gulf can be exposed to asbestos debris.

First responders may have also been at risk of exposure over the years. Given its close proximity to the Gulf, Texas has been devastated by many major hurricanes. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey, a Category 4, caused widespread destruction and chaos. With collapsed houses, buildings and high winds up to days after the landfall, this created a risk to those at the epicenter of the tragedy. Firefighters, police officers, medical teams, those in the National Guard and even military members all may have been exposed as asbestos fibers became airborne.

 

A Houston asbestos attorney can help you.

Exposure to asbestos can be debilitating to you, members of your family, and others within your inner circle. With the financial burden of sky-high medical bills and lost wages that come from being unable to work, diseases are more than difficult to deal with. It is important that you seek the assistance of an asbestos lawyer to help you claim compensation in the form of damages that you could be entitled to. 

After being diagnosed with an illness that’s linked back to exposure, seeking out the help of an asbestos injury attorney can ensure you have all of your options laid in front of you, taking out much of the guesswork and ensuring your case gets reviewed in a timely manner.

AsbestosClaims.Law understands what you need from an asbestos attorney in Houston.

When you contact AsbestosClaims.Law, you will get helpful representation to take cre of the research and the filing of an asbestos claim. While the process, in itself, is complicated, the lawyers at Justinian C. Lane & Associates make this it simple for you.

The largest database of asbestos information on the planet

W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.

AsbestosClaims.Law

AsbestosClaims.law is your comprehensive resource for all things asbestos. We hope this information is helpful.

If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.

If you believe that your home was contaminated with asbestos, or you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, or have been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, you could be entitled to significant compensation—money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 

All without filing a lawsuit.

If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.

1 Tompa E, Kalcevich C, McLeod C, Lebeau M, Song C, McLeod K, et al. The economic burden of lung cancer and mesothelioma due to occupational and para-occupational asbestos exposure. Occup Environ Med 2017; 74: 816-22.
Thomas L. Arnold, Note, Toxic Tort – Causation in Asbestos Claims – The Texas Supreme Court Creates New Causation Requirement and Leaves Numerous Victims without a Remedy, 61 SMU L. REV. 487 (2008), https://scholar.smu.edu/smulr/vol61/iss2/7