Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in San Francisco

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in the southeast corner of the city repaired and maintained Navy ships from World War II into the 1970s. Ship repair meant constant work with asbestos insulation on boilers, turbines and piping. Nearby, commercial shipyards along the Central Waterfront built and repaired vessels, and during World War II additional yards south of the city built ships at high speed. Workers at these yards often moved between them as contracts changed, and many belonged to the same union halls. Ship repair required tearing out old insulation in tight spaces, so dust from one crew's work spread to electricians, welders and others nearby. Many former workers still live in the Bay Area.

A power plant at Hunters Point supplied electricity for decades, with boilers and steam lines insulated with asbestos. Across the city, older office towers, schools and apartment buildings used asbestos fireproofing, pipe insulation and flooring, and building trades encountered these materials during renovations. San Francisco's long history of maritime and construction work means many residents and retirees carry exposure from several sources. Building engineers and custodians who maintained boilers and pipes in older buildings could also be exposed during routine repairs. Longshoremen on the San Francisco waterfront handled cargo that sometimes included asbestos, adding yet another source of exposure for the city's working families.