Iowa: Mesothelioma Attorneys Help IA Asbestos Exposure Victims

Des Moines, Iowa – Mesothelioma attorneys from the national asbestos litigation firm of Levy Konigsberg LLP (“LK”) are continuing to help Iowa mesothelioma patients and families obtain legal compensation from companies who manufactured, sold or used asbestos-containing products.

Every year, thousands of men and women across the country are diagnosed with mesothelioma, including many in Iowa. Even more are diagnosed with lung cancer and asbestosis. All of these asbestos-related diseases could have been prevented if workers had been properly protected from exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma attorneys at LK are skilled in identifying the unique asbestos exposures suffered by individuals who resided or worked in Iowa.

Iowa Agriculture

Comprised of 55,875 square miles, over 90% of the land in Iowa is used for agriculture purposes. Rough estimates count the number of farms throughout Iowa at 92,200. Between the 1950s and 1990s, the average acreage of farms in Iowa quickly grew, from 169 acres in 1950 to 322 acres in 1990. Generations of families in Iowa tirelessly worked their crop fields or tended to livestock. Attorneys at LK understand the backbreaking effort, dedication and skill necessary to maintain such large operations. If you or a loved one were diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness due to work on a farm, we will vigorously investigate all sources of your asbestos exposure. After decades of physical, financial and emotional investment into their agricultural ventures, farmers in Iowa deserve the strongest legal advocacy possible.

Agriculture Machinery

Much of the equipment used by farmers and their employees required brakes, clutches and other automotive components, including gaskets, seals, flanges and manifolds. Farming equipment, including tractors, cultivators, seeders, layers, planters, spreaders, sorters, fertilizing equipment, balers, mowers, toppers, backhoes, loaders, cutters, traction engines, threshing machines hog oilers as well as trucks and cars, were routinely used on Iowa farms. Many farmers personally maintained this equipment, regularly performing required maintenance, including brake and clutch replacements as well as removal and installation of gaskets and seals. Although manufacturers of automotive components were aware of the dangers associated with exposure to asbestos as far back as the 1930s and 1940s, much of this automotive equipment incorporated asbestos through to the 1990s. Farmers and other employees were regularly exposed to asbestos while maintaining equipment critical to their operations.

Farm Buildings

Between the 1930s and 1970s, many of the materials used in construction and repair of buildings and other structures contained asbestos. Joint compounds, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, wallboard, paint and other products contained asbestos which became airborne upon use. Farmers and other employees who built, maintained or repaired structures on their property may have been exposed to asbestos while working with or around these products. Mesothelioma attorneys at LK are experienced in identifying asbestos exposures suffered by individuals who built or repaired such structures.

Fort Dodge

Located along the Des Moines River in North Central Iowa, Fort Dodge was a hub for commercial industry for several decades. Meatpacking plants, construction-supply and gypsum manufacturers operated plants and facilities for several decades. Some of the major employers in Fort Dodge included:

• Bestwall Gypsum;
• Celotex;
• CertainTeed;
• Georgia Pacific;
• Great Western Cereal Company;
• Iowa Beef Processors and Hormel
• Universal Gypsum Company.

Due to the presence of numerous industrial employers in Fort Dodge, insulators, plumbers, electricians, pipefitters, chemical operators, machinists, boilermakers, engineers and many other trades were routinely exposed to asbestos. Many tradespeople employed at these factories, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities regularly worked with and around asbestos-containing materials. During your free consultation, an LK attorney will review your employment history and discuss the investigation of asbestos exposure at your worksites.

Military Bases

Between the 1930s and 1980s, thousands of military personnel and civilian employees were stationed at Army bases located in Iowa. Many skilled military personnel and civilian employees, including mechanics, boilermakers, machinists and other trades, worked with and around asbestos-containing equipment. The following bases were operated for over a century in Iowa:

• Camp Dodge Army Base, Johnston, IA (Est. 1907);
• Fort Des Moines Army Base, Des Moines, IA (Est. 1843);
• Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Des Moines, IA (Est. 1940).

If you or a loved one were stationed or employed at one of these Iowa military bases and have developed an asbestos-related disease, an attorney at LK will assist you in identifying all possible exposures of asbestos you may have suffered while on a military base.

Iowa Power Plants

Available statistics show that Iowa ranks 16th in the nation in coal power generation, with 72 coal-fired power units spread throughout the state. Thousands of individuals were employed at these power plants in various positions, including laborers, millwrights, pipefitters, insulators, furnace technicians, boilermakers, plumbers and electricians. LK mesothelioma attorneys will help you or your family identify all possible asbestos exposures suffered at these Iowa power plants.

The generation of power in Iowa required the use of large, high-temperature equipment. Boilers, furnaces, turbines, cooling towers and ovens were installed, maintained and repaired at these power plants. This equipment required large amounts of asbestos-containing products to properly function. Other products, including pumps, valves, motors, wire, cable, heaters, air conditioning units, gaskets, packing, chillers, and steam traps were necessary to allow the powerhouses to properly function. Individuals working at these Iowa power plants were exposed to high levels of asbestos dust from their work with or around these products.

Iowa worksites where asbestos exposure was common include:

Figure 1. Map of the most common asbestos exposure worksites in the State of Iowa.

If you or your loved one are an Iowa resident or were exposed to asbestos in Iowa, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, please call 1-800-637-6529 or submit an online inquiry on this website to receive a FREE consultation with mesothelioma attorneys at Levy Konigsberg LLP.