Port Adams Shipyard
Texas is home to many large shipyards, largely due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest bodies of water in the world. One of the many successful facilities in the state was the Port Adams Shipyard.
Every shipyard requires a large number of people to keep it operating at a consistent level. Skilled artisans were employed to keep up with the huge workload that was common at this Texas based facility. Unfortunately, all of the people who called the Port Adams Shipyard their place of employment were burdened with an unexpected risk that they faced each day. This happened because they spent time around a toxic mineral without the benefit of wearing any protective gear or clothing to keep them safe.
Most of the people who worked at the shipyard had no idea that they were spending time around a poisonous material. Asbestos was discovered in the United States around the time of the Industrial Revolution, and quickly became one of the most commonly used resources in the country. The mineral is strong, pliable and can withstand even the most extreme temperatures. In case that wasn't enough, it was also easy to find and very economical to mine. Manufacturing companies sought it out by the ton, and used it within hundreds of different products.
One of the more common uses for asbestos was as a base for insulating products. These goods were constantly needed at shipyards, to sustain the hot running equipment that was operated on a daily basis. While the insulation worked well to regulate heat levels inside this machinery, small bits of asbestos would regularly break off and enter the air supply. Workers constantly breathed in microscopic particles of the toxic mineral without even knowing it. They may have been aware that they were in close proximity to asbestos, but they had no idea of the danger it held for them.
It can take years for asbestos to produce noticeable effects, but as it sits within the respiratory system it will slowly scar healthy tissue and produce a variety of ailments. People who worked at the Port Adams Shipyard often developed severe breathing disorders and lung cancer, including the feared and sometimes deadly mesothelioma.
Asbestos was used to make goods that were put to use all over the United States. It has made millions of people sick and claimed an untold number of lives. People who worked at the Port Adams Shipyard or other such locations should notify their doctors that they may be at risk for developing any of the diseases that are closely associated with exposure to this toxic mineral.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
