South Portland Shipyard

Oregon is the home state of a nearly 7 acre sized ship repair facility known as the South Portland Shipyard. It is located right by the Pacific Ocean, and it has a long pier that extends far out into the water as part of its property. Many ships are brought in to this facility for repairs, protective maintenance and other necessary upgrades.

Throughout its history, the South Portland Shipyard used many different products that contained asbestos. These items were primarily insulation based, because much of the machinery found on any large vessel runs at very high temperatures and must be regulated properly. Asbestos was proven to be one of the best insulating materials available. Not only was it very strong and able to survive great heat, it was also fire resistant. Add to that the fact that the mineral was easy to find and inexpensive to mine, and it becomes obvious why manufacturers used it in so many different ways.

Regardless of how beneficial asbestos was, it contained a terrifying secret for many decades. The mineral is poisonous, and it can cause people who spend time around it to become very ill. When shipyard workers spent their time on the clock, they would breathe in microscopic particles of asbestos which would attach to the lining of their respiratory system. The toxins then seep into the victims bodies, and over a period of many years develop into conditions such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The conditions produced by asbestos exposure are very serious, and often lethal. There is no cure for the diseases associated with asbestos, and they are extremely difficult to treat.

Several shipyards were built in Oregon over the years, and the people who worked at every one of them faced the same unknown hazard. It wasn't until the later 1970's that most people became aware of the dangers they encountered simply by going to work. All over the country people became ill, and the presence of asbestos became a national epidemic. Government agencies like the EPA and OSHA had to get involved and demand the removal of all contaminated products. These groups attempted to ban all future use of asbestos, but were unable to accomplish this goal. They did, however, implement strict regulations for the disposal and use of asbestos to help ensure that it would not harm people in the future.

Last modified: December 09 2009.