Albina Shipyard

In 1904 the Albina Shipyard was opened in Portland, Oregon. It was put to use as a ship building and repair facility, and also maintained a wastewater treatment plant and an assembly plant on site.

Dealing with wastewater comes with certain expected risks. People understand that the job is dangerous, and they are dealing with hazardous materials. So, the workers who spent their time at the Albina Shipyard were well aware of the potential threat they faced every time they went to work, but they were also subjected to an unknown danger that was present in large quantities all over the shipyard.

The unrecognized threat came from the large amounts of asbestos that were used in several goods at the facility, especially within the insulation materials. Asbestos is a mineral that was found in almost every type of product made within the United States for several decades. It is strong, fire resistant, can be molded into most any shape and inexpensive to obtain. Miners and manufacturers practically considered it to be a miracle material, which is why they continued to use it even after they were informed that asbestos is toxic.

Workers who retrieved the mineral from natural deposits, helped turn it into various commodities or worked around products that contained it were regularly subjected to breathing in miniscule asbestos fibers that would cling to their respiratory system. These fibers would often scar healthy tissue and make breathing difficult and labored. Over time the results would become even worse. People who inhaled the substance tended to develop various types of lung cancer, among them the highly recognizable and potentially deadly mesothelioma.

By the 1970's public awareness about the dangers of asbestos began to grow, and the mineral was removed from work sites all across the United States. Victims filed lawsuits by the thousands, and many of the companies that had allowed workers to be exposed to the toxin were forced to declare bankruptcy. The Albina Shipyard closed down for good in the 1980's. Former workers may still be developing serious health issues from the time they spent at this Portland based shipyard.

Last modified: December 09 2009.