Arizona Office

There is a long history of asbestos usage in Arizona. Many Native American reservations owned asbestos sites and distributed the material to businesses located throughout the country. By the 1890s, however, many asbestos mines in Arizona were shut down due to the health risk they presented. In addition to the state’s asbestos mines, limestone deposits throughout the state also contained asbestos. As a result, many individuals in Arizona have been subjected to the harmful health risks presented by the material.

Approximately 103 sites in Arizona are known to contain naturally-occurring asbestos. 96 of these sites are chrysotile deposits located in the central part of Arizona. The highest concentration of asbestos in Arizona, however, is in northern Gila County.

Arizona has a number of naturally-occurring asbestos sites, due to the material’s vital role in a number of industries. Some of the industries where asbestos exposure is known to occur include:

• Copper smelting. The mining of copper was particularly common in Arizona, which led to an increased need for copper smelters. A number of smelters relied on asbestos as a result of the material’s heat- and fire- resistant abilities.
• Manufacturing. Many manufacturing companies used asbestos in machinery, where it was relied on to perform a number of tasks.
• Military. The United States Air Forces, as well as the Marines, used asbestos in locations like Williams Air Force Base and the Yuma Marine Corps Air Station.
• Mining. Despite the closing of the last asbestos mine in Arizona in the early 1980s, the material was prevalent throughout the state and resulted in a large number of people being exposed to the material.
• Oil refineries. Several oil refineries used a number of asbestos materials in the construction of facilities and the machinery used for a number of chemical processes, which placed multiple refinery workers at risk.
• Power plants. Several companies in the power plant industry used asbestos in a number of asbestos products, including construction projects as well as machinery. As a result, countless workers were exposed to asbestos fibers.

Arizona has created a number of laws regarding the injuries presented by asbestos exposure. These laws dictate when a person is able to initiate a claim, the standard for establishing damage, and the amount of damages that can be received.

The Lohrmann test is applied in Arizona concerning the degree of exposure that a person must demonstrate to establish the causation aspect of negligence claims. To satisfy this test, a victim must present evidence establishing a reasonable probability between their disease and the product manufactured by the defendant.

If you or a loved one is an Arizona resident who was exposed to asbestos and who has now been diagnosed with a life-changing condition, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced attorney. If your condition has left you unable to travel, our attorneys are prepared to come to you.

Contact the Throneberry Law Group today for assistance.

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