Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Phoenix
Phoenix may not immediately come to mind as a high-risk city for mesothelioma, but the reality is that the Valley of the Sun's explosive growth, extensive military infrastructure, power generation needs, and unique geological history have created multiple pathways for asbestos exposure that continue to produce new diagnoses today. The combination of military bases, one of the nation's largest nuclear power plants, early semiconductor manufacturing, a massive construction boom, and Arizona's own asbestos mining history makes Phoenix a significant mesothelioma risk area in the American Southwest.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, military bases and power generation facilities rank among the most significant sources of asbestos exposure in the southwestern United States. Phoenix is home to both — Luke Air Force Base, which has operated since 1941, used asbestos in base construction, aircraft maintenance hangars, and infrastructure throughout its decades of operation. Williams Air Force Base (closed in 1993, now Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport) had similar patterns of asbestos use. The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, located 50 miles west of Phoenix, is the largest nuclear power plant in the United States and was constructed using extensive asbestos-containing materials in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Motorola and other semiconductor manufacturers established major operations in Phoenix during the 1950s and 1960s, and early semiconductor manufacturing processes used asbestos in furnace insulation, heat-resistant components, and facility infrastructure. Salt River Project operated coal-fired and gas-fired power plants throughout the Phoenix area with asbestos insulation in boilers, turbines, and pipes. Phoenix's construction boom from the 1950s through the 1990s involved asbestos-containing building materials in thousands of commercial and residential structures. Arizona also has a unique history of asbestos mining, with vermiculite deposits in the Globe area that contained naturally occurring asbestos.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. Workers exposed at Luke AFB, Palo Verde, or during the Phoenix construction boom of the 1970s and 1980s are being diagnosed now. A construction worker who installed asbestos floor tiles in a Phoenix office building in 1975 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later. Arizona's 2-year statute of limitations makes prompt legal action after diagnosis critical.
Phoenix's Asbestos Legacy by the Numbers
Luke AFB and Williams AFB together employed thousands of military and civilian personnel over decades. Palo Verde employs approximately 3,800 workers. Phoenix grew from roughly 100,000 residents in 1950 to over 1.6 million today, and much of that construction involved asbestos-containing materials. Arizona records consistent mesothelioma mortality, and the Phoenix metropolitan area is a primary contributor. If you worked at any military base, power plant, industrial facility, or construction site in the Phoenix area, documenting your asbestos exposure history is essential — especially given Arizona's short 2-year filing deadline.