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Chemical Plants

Monsanto Sauget Plant

Monsanto Sauget Plant

Monsanto Sauget Plant The Monsanto Sauget Plant, located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, was a major chemical manufacturing facility that operated for decades producing industrial chemicals. Workers at this plant were exposed to asbestos in insulation and process components throughout the facility.

Last verified: 2026-03-09
Legal & editorial
Written by Paul Danziger, J.D. · Edited by Rod De Llano, J.D. · Legally reviewed by Michelle Whitman (affiliated firm)
Editorial Policy & Advisory Board
Location
Sauget, IL
Industry
Chemical Manufacturing
Exposure Era
1930s–1970s
Primary Asbestos Products
Pipe insulation, Gaskets, Valve packing, Boiler insulation, Fireproofing materials
Job Categories at Risk
Chemical operators, Pipe fitters, Insulators, Boilermakers, Electricians

History & Asbestos Use

Monsanto Chemical Company established its Sauget manufacturing plant in 1929, and the village of Sauget was actually incorporated largely to serve the plant operations. The facility produced a wide range of chemicals including PCBs, plasticizers, and agricultural products. Asbestos was used extensively in the plant insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing from the earliest days of operation through the late 1970s. The site is now an EPA Superfund location due to widespread contamination.

Exposure Details

Workers at the Monsanto Sauget plant encountered asbestos in the insulation covering chemical process piping, reactors, boilers, and heat exchangers. The plant age meant that original asbestos insulation in many areas had deteriorated significantly, releasing fibers during routine operations and maintenance. Maintenance and trades workers who removed and replaced worn insulation and gaskets faced the heaviest exposure.

Workers at Risk

The following job categories at Monsanto Sauget Plant had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:

  • Chemical operators
  • Pipe fitters
  • Insulators
  • Boilermakers
  • Electricians

Health Effects

Former Monsanto Sauget workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in addition to health effects from chemical exposures at the plant. The combination of asbestos exposure with PCBs, dioxins, and other toxic substances produced at the facility created compounded health risks for workers. The Sauget area has seen elevated rates of cancer linked to the decades of industrial operations at the site.

Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.

Compensation May Be Available

Workers exposed to asbestos at Monsanto Sauget Plant may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.

2 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

Find Out If You Qualify

Were You Exposed to Asbestos at Monsanto Sauget Plant?

Workers who were employed at Monsanto Sauget Plant between 1930s–1970s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.

Speak with an Attorney — Free Request a Free Case Evaluation

Related Asbestos Trust Funds

Workers exposed to asbestos at Monsanto Sauget Plant may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:

Related Exposure Sites

Refineries

Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery

Roxana, IL

Treatment Centers in Illinois

If you were exposed to asbestos at Monsanto Sauget Plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Illinois may be able to help.

University of Chicago Medicine

University of Chicago Medicine

Chicago, IL

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
Northwestern Medicine (Lurie Cancer Center)

Northwestern Medicine (Lurie Cancer Center)

Chicago, IL

Comprehensive Cancer Center
View Full Profile
Loyola Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center

Loyola Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center

Maywood, IL

View Full Profile
Rush University Medical Center

Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, IL

View Full Profile

Browse all treatment centers →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Monsanto Sauget plant still operating?

The original Monsanto chemical manufacturing operations at Sauget have been largely shut down, and portions of the site are designated as an EPA Superfund location. However, former workers exposed to asbestos during the plant operational years continue to be diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.

What chemicals were produced at the Monsanto Sauget plant?

The plant produced a wide range of chemical products including PCBs, plasticizers, herbicides, and various industrial chemicals. Workers were exposed to these chemicals in addition to asbestos-containing insulation materials, creating complex occupational health risks.

Who is liable for asbestos exposure at the Monsanto Sauget plant?

Monsanto corporate successors, including Bayer following its 2018 acquisition, as well as the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products used at the plant, may be liable. Multiple asbestos trust funds cover products that were installed at the facility. An experienced attorney can identify all responsible parties.

I worked here but I have no employment records. Does that end it?

No. Missing paperwork is normal after this long, and it is not what decides a claim. A Social Security earnings statement lists every employer you had, by year, and can usually be requested directly. Union records, W-2s and a DD-214 for military service do similar work. Coworkers who were there can also confirm conditions. What matters most is what you remember, written down in your own words.

My father or husband worked here and has since died. Can the family still file?

Yes. A wrongful death claim can be brought by the estate or eligible family members, and it is a separate route from a claim the patient would have brought themselves. It also runs on a different clock: the deadline generally starts at the date of death rather than the date of diagnosis, which means families are sometimes still in time when they assume they are not. Deadlines are set by each state, so confirm the one that applies to yours.

I never worked here, but a family member did. Could I have been exposed?

Possibly. Asbestos fibres travelled home on work clothes, in hair and in vehicles, and household members were exposed while washing laundry or greeting someone at the end of a shift. This is called secondhand or take-home exposure and it is a recognised route to a claim in its own right, not an exception. If you are documenting a family member's work history, write down your own contact with their work clothing as well.

Did you work at Monsanto Sauget Plant? Write this down now

You do not need a lawyer, a diagnosis, or a decision to do this. You need a piece of paper. Memory is the part of a claim nobody else can reconstruct for you, and it is the part that fades.

  • The years you worked there — approximate is fine, and a range is fine
  • Your trade or job title, and what you actually did day to day
  • Which building, unit, ship or area you spent your time in
  • Who else was there — names of crew, foremen, or anyone who could confirm it later
  • Anything you remember about the materials — write what you recall on your own, before looking anything up. Details you remember unprompted are the ones that hold up years later when you are asked under oath. Details you read on a website do not.

If you are doing this for a relative who has died, write down what you remember too, including work clothes brought home to be washed. Household exposure is a real claim, not an edge case.

Worked at Monsanto Sauget Plant? Tell us the years and your trade

That is usually enough to work out which claims are open to you — trust funds, a lawsuit, or VA benefits if the exposure happened in service. You do not need records, dates you are certain of, or the name of a product. If you are asking on behalf of someone who has died, a family member can file and the deadline runs differently. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure to decide anything today.

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Fast Results Trust fund claims can resolve in as few as 90 days. We move quickly for our clients.

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Sources:

  • EPA Superfund records — accessed 2026-03-09
  • OSHA compliance records — accessed 2026-03-09
  • Illinois EPA records — accessed 2026-03-09
← All Exposure Sites in Illinois ← All Exposure Sites
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