Tucson is the 2nd largest city in Arizona behind Phoenix, with a population that exceeds 500,000 residents. Perhaps best known nationally as the home of the University of Arizona, this city has a thriving economy that was built in part by the copper mining industry.

Indeed, nearly 5% of Tucson’s residents were copper miners in the 1970s. This mining industry that spurred Tucson’s growth, however, also regularly used asbestos at jobsites. Many of the wrongful asbestos exposures that have occurred in Tucson are related to mining, and these exposures have harmed too many Tucson families.

Why Is Asbestos Exposure Dangerous?

Asbestos was widely used at industrial jobsites and military sites until overwhelming evidence proving its toxicity to human health led to an asbestos ban in the 1970s. Until that point, jobsites like mines and military bases relied on asbestos for its durable nature and chemically-resistant attributes.

When asbestos is disturbed at one of these jobsites, however, the microscopic fibers of this mineral can release into the air before being swallowed or inhaled by workers. Once asbestos enters the body, it can affect the lining of the lungs and lead to the following deadly diseases:

• Asbestosis
• Asbestos-related lung cancer
• Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma’s primary known cause is asbestos exposure, and its long latency period and relatively low incidence rates may it particularly difficult to diagnose and treat. For this reason, survival rates for pleural mesothelioma patients are exceptionally low.

Approximately 1 in 3 patients will survive one year after diagnosis, and just 10% will survive five years after receiving a diagnosis.

Asbestos Exposure in Tucson

Tucson’s Pima County has suffered from more asbestos-related deaths than any other Arizona county save for Maricopa County, which is the county of Phoenix. CDC findings reveal that an estimated 769 Tucson residents passed away from asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2013.

Known jobsites include mining sites, military sites and even university buildings. A few of the jobsites that exposed Tucson to asbestos include:

• Arizona State University
• Duval Mine
• Fort Huachuca
• Hughes Aircraft
• Pacific Fruit Express
• Phelps Dodge Copper Mine
• Titan Missile Site
• Tucson Powerhouse
• University of Arizona
• Veterans Administration Hospital

Since some of these jobsites affected veterans, it is essential to note that military veterans are disproportionately affected by asbestos. Veterans comprise less than 10% of the population, yet they suffer nearly 1 in 3 of the country’s mesothelioma deaths.

If you or a loved one worked at a copper mine, military site or any other Tucson jobsite that exposed workers to asbestos, protect your legal rights by talking to a Tucson mesothelioma attorney.

Talk to a Tucson Mesothelioma Lawyer

The Ledger Law Firm represents asbestos victims who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis that was caused by a wrongful exposure by a legally responsible party. Our team is here to help prove that your diagnosis and the associated harms that resulted deserve legal compensation.

Contact us online today and take the first step to receiving the legal compensation your Tucson family both deserves and needs.