Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Seattle

Shipbuilding has a long history in Seattle, especially on Harbor Island at the mouth of the Duwamish River. During World War II and the decades after, local yards built and repaired Navy and commercial vessels. Engine rooms, boilers and steam lines were insulated with asbestos, and shipyard trades often worked in tight, poorly ventilated spaces where dust built up quickly. Ship repair was often dustier than new construction, because old insulation had to be torn out before new work could begin. Workers in nearby trades, such as electricians and welders, could breathe the same dust while working in the same compartments. Longshore and maritime workers on the waterfront could also encounter asbestos.

Seattle is also the birthplace of a major aircraft industry. Aircraft plants along the Duwamish used asbestos in some heat-resistant components, insulation and building materials. Beyond these large employers, construction across a fast-growing city brought asbestos fireproofing, pipe insulation and joint compound into offices, schools and homes. Many Seattle tradespeople worked in shipyards, factories and construction over the course of their careers. Seattle's union halls dispatched insulators, pipefitters and electricians to many kinds of job sites, including power plants, mills and hospitals. A single career could therefore include shipyards, factories and building sites, each with different products. Custodians and engineers in older buildings could also be exposed during repairs.