Memphis - Asbestos & Mesothelioma Resources

Like other states involved in industry, Tennessee has its share of asbestos problems. This includes health problems for those who worked in the paper and pulp industry or the electrical power industry. With many parts of the state being rural, asbestos exposure is most likely found in the major metropolitan areas, such as Memphis.

Statistical Data

County	Asbestosis	Mesothelioma	Total
Shelby	9	43	52

** It is important to remember that this chart only looks at Memphis, Tennessee (Shelby County). It is based on information gathered by the Environmental Working Group from statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control between 1979 and 1999. Prior to 1998, mesothelioma was not considered a separate cause of death, so the numbers may appear lower than they actually are. These statistics also do not take other asbestos-related diseases into consideration, such as lung and gastrointestinal cancer.

Historical Asbestos Exposure Sites

As with many industrial states, Tennessee residents often received asbestos exposure through their place of employment. The paper and pulp industry as well as the power industry operated plants that put employees and neighboring communities at risk.

Some sites are currently known for asbestos exposure. If you worked or lived near any of these locations and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition such as mesothelioma, you might have grounds for a legal case. These locations include:

Army Depot - This center was known as the Memphis Quartermaster Depot, Memphis Army Service Forces Depot, and the Memphis General Depot. The employees here worked on Army supply missions. It became known as the Memphis Army Depot in 1962 and the Defense Depot Memphis in 1964. It provided support to the military from World War II through Desert Storm and was closed in 1997.
Buckman Labs - Opened in 1945, this company is responsible for chemicals that are used in the paper, leather, and water treatment industries.
Saino Manufacturing Plant - This plant works on automatic door systems, and workers there may have been exposed to asbestos during their employment.
University of Tennessee - Students and faculty may have been exposed to asbestos in the chemicals used, as well as asbestos found in older buildings.

Existing Asbestos Exposure Hazards

Tennessee is the home to many paper and pulp products company, including International Paper Company, which are known to have used asbestos in daily operations. In fact, over a third of the people that had been employed in the paper industry for at least a year in 2002 suffered from asbestos exposure, often with deadly consequences. Anyone working in these industries is currently at risk.

Tennessee also features the Tennessee Valley Authority, one of the largest public utilities companies in the country. Having been in business for 75 years now, the company employs thousands and serves more than 8 million customers. Many of the employees that have worked for the company, along with their families, may have been exposed to asbestos. Since power plants and electrical wiring are at a high risk of fire, they were often insulated with asbestos. This put numerous families and employees at risk.

Construction workers and remodelers working on or demolishing older buildings may also be at risk of asbestos exposure due to asbestos that was used in the wiring, insulation, or other construction materials of older homes and buildings.

Legal Issues

There have been many positive verdicts for asbestos victims in Tennessee. For example, James Weese sued more than 100 different companies for putting him at risk of asbestos exposure due to faulty products that he was sold during his career. The companies included big names like Dow Chemicals, General Motors, Goodyear, Sears, and U.S. Steel.

The courts of Tennessee are also working with the U.S. Postal Service in employee claims. The flooring used in one of the main facilities included asbestos, which put many employees and visitors at risk. Measures are still underway to look for a safe solution for the problem.

If you think you have been exposed to asbestos, you should see a doctor right away. After a diagnosis has been made, it is in your best interest to speak with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer.

Treatment Centers

Thompson Cancer Survival Center
9700 Sherrill Blvd.
Knoxville, TN
(865) 541-1678

Veterans Affairs Medical Center-Memphis
1030 Jefferson Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104
(888) 636-8262

Baptist Memorial Hospital
6019 Walnut Grove Rd.
Memphis, TN 38120
(901) 226-5000

Vanderbilt University Medical Center
21st Ave. S. and Medical Center Dr.
Nashville, TN 37232
(615) 322-5000

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