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Plano - Asbestos & Mesothelioma Resources

Founded in the 1840s, Plano lies within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Initially, Plano grew slowly. Its growth increased rapidly after 1970 as the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area expanded. Today, Plano is home to many large corporations, including Rent-A-Center, JC Penney, Cinemark Theaters, Frito-Lay, Dr. Pepper, Raytheon, and Texas Instruments. In 2007, Plano was the nation's 69th largest city with a population of 260,796.

Asbestos concerns by Plano residents have centered more on the general Dallas-Fort Worth area than on Plano itself. Of particular concern is the W. R. Grace Vermiculite Plant in Dallas, which processed thousands of tons of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore from a mine in Libby, Montana. Asbestos-containing vermiculite ore from the Libby mine was sent to processing plants across the nation for decades and exposed thousands of people to asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which has been used for centuries because of its fireproofing and insulating properties. It came into widespread use in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century as industry grew. From the 1930s to the early 1980s, asbestos was extensively used in home construction.

Asbestos is hazardous when it is friable. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause the chronic, disabling lung disease asbestosis and the rare cancer mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure can also lead to other grave health conditions, including gastrointestinal and colon cancer.

Statistical Data

Most of Plano resides in Collin County, with a small portion in Denton County. According to data compiled by the Environmental Working Group from statistics collected by the Centers for Disease Control, Texas ranks fifth among the states in terms of asbestos-related deaths. At least 2,651 people have passed in Texas since 1979 from asbestos-related illnesses.

County	Asbestosis	Mesothelioma	Meso High	Total
Collin	3	10	17	13-20
Denton	2	7	10	9-12
Dallas	52	114	199	164-249
Rockwall	1	2	3	3-4
Grayson	1	16	26	17-27

** The government did not begin tracking mesothelioma separately as a cause of death until 1998. When they did, the mortality rate nationwide for deaths from mesothelioma more than doubled. The lower number in each range represents an estimated mortality rate based on asbestos cancers that were thought to be mesothelioma. The higher range reflects the mesothelioma rate if one assumes that the incidence during earlier years was actually twice that reflected by government statistics.

Historical Asbestos Exposure Sites

Power Plants

Electric power is supplied to Plano by 19 different retail electric providers and CoServe Electric, a cooperative electric utility. Historically, power plants in the Plano area used asbestos extensively in their facilities, as did power plants across the nation. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used to insulate conduits and pipes. Gaskets and other machine parts contained asbestos as well. With age and use, much of this asbestos is at risk of becoming friable.

People who worked in Plano power plants prior to the mid-1980s were likely exposed to asbestos. Today, most power plants across the nation have conducted asbestos abatement programs, covering asbestos that could not be removed. Asbestos is considered safe if it is covered over so that it cannot release hazardous dust into the air.

Vermiculite Processing Plant

W. R. Grace and Company Vermiculite Processing Plant - Between 1953 and 1992, the W.R. Grace Vermiculite Plant in Dallas at 2651 Manila Road processing thousands of tons of vermiculite ore from the Libby, Montana mines. In the 1990s it was discovered that vermiculite from Libby contained asbestos.

People who worked at the Dallas plant during these years were exposed to asbestos. Processing vermiculite involves several tasks which release dust into the air, thus increasing the risk of exposure to asbestos. Workers' families may have also been exposed to asbestos dust transported home on the workers' clothes, shoes, and hair. Residents of the area surrounding the plant may have been exposed as well.

If you worked at this plant or suspect you might have otherwise been subjected to asbestos exposure from it, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry advises you to consult a physician specializing in treating asbestos-related disorders. Early detection is the key to more effective treatment.

Existing Asbestos Exposure Hazards

Many of Plano's companies were built after the government began regulating asbestos use. Asbestos exposure at Plano's current worksites is not a great concern; however, there are many older buildings in Plano and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area which do contain asbestos.

If you suspect your building contains asbestos, consult a licensed asbestos abatement expert before you decide to remove the potential hazard. When asbestos within a structure is in good condition, it is frequently less risky and less costly to let the material remain. Removing asbestos-containing materials can lead to an asbestos exposure risk if not properly performed. Trained workers wearing appropriate protective gear can abate asbestos that cannot be easily removed by sealing it with approved substances. Asbestos sealed in such a way is considered much safer.

Asbestos removal should be done by licensed, trained professionals following government regulations for removal and disposal. Consult your local or state department of health or environmental quality for asbestos regulations specific to your area. Failure to follow asbestos regulations can lead to serious health hazards, as well as costly fines.

Asbestos in the News

In September 2008, Dallas city officials announced plans to demolish the 28-year-old Reunion Arena. Like so many older structures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the arena contains asbestos. The asbestos will be removed before demolition begins; this is standard procedure, since demolishing a building contaminated with asbestos cause asbestos fibers to be released into the air.

Regulations and Regulatory Agencies

Office of Public Affairs
Occupation Safety and Health Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20210
(202) 693-1999
1-800-321-6742 (1-800-321-OSHA)

For information on the health effects of asbestos and for information on asbestos testing contact:

Information Resources Branch
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Robert A. Taft Laboratories
Mailstop C-18
4676 Columbia Parkway
Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
1-800-356-4674 (1800-35-NIOSH)
eidtechinfo@cdc.gov

Treatment Centers

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
North Campus - Harold C. Simmons
Comprehensive Cancer Center
2201 Inwood Road
Dallas, TX 75390
Phone: (214) 645-HOPE (4673)
Toll Free: (866) 460-HOPE (4673)

Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas - Cancer Care
8200 Walnut Hill Lane
Dallas, TX 75231
(214) 345-6789

There is also a Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, but currently the facility at Dallas is more equipped to give complete cancer care.

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