Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Los Angeles, California

Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Los Angeles

Los Angeles presented workers with asbestos hazards across multiple industries, often concentrated in geographic clusters where port operations, aerospace plants, refineries, and shipyards operated within miles of one another. The following are the most significant sources of asbestos exposure in the greater Los Angeles area.

Port of Los Angeles & Port of Long Beach

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the busiest in the United States and rank among the largest in the world. For decades, dock workers, longshoremen, freight handlers, and warehouse workers operated in environments saturated with asbestos. Ships arriving for repair and cargo handling contained asbestos insulation in boiler rooms, engine rooms, pipe systems, and cargo holds. Port infrastructure including warehouses, terminals, and maintenance buildings were constructed with asbestos-containing materials. Heavy equipment used on the docks relied on asbestos brake linings and gaskets.

Aerospace Manufacturing

Los Angeles was the epicenter of American aerospace during the mid-20th century. Asbestos was used extensively in aircraft and missile production for its heat-resistant properties. Major facilities include:

• Lockheed (Burbank) — Produced military and commercial aircraft; asbestos used in heat shields, insulation, brake systems, and factory fireproofing
• Northrop (Hawthorne) — Manufactured fighter aircraft and bomber components; asbestos in thermal protection systems and facility insulation
• Hughes Aircraft (Culver City / El Segundo) — Produced military electronics, helicopters, and satellites; asbestos in manufacturing processes and building materials
• Douglas Aircraft / McDonnell Douglas (Long Beach / Santa Monica) — Major commercial and military aircraft producer; asbestos in assembly operations and plant infrastructure

Oil Refineries

Southern California's oil refining industry depended on asbestos insulation in high-temperature processing equipment. Workers at refineries in El Segundo, Torrance, Wilmington, and Carson were exposed to asbestos in pipe insulation, boiler wrapping, gaskets, valve packing, and refractory materials. Key facilities include the El Segundo Refinery (Chevron), the Torrance Refinery, and multiple facilities along the Wilmington industrial corridor.

Shipyards & Ship Repair

Beyond the naval facilities at Long Beach, commercial shipyards in the San Pedro and Terminal Island areas performed ship construction and repair operations that involved extensive asbestos use. Todd Pacific Shipyard in San Pedro built and repaired vessels throughout the mid-20th century, and workers there were routinely exposed to asbestos insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing materials during construction, overhaul, and dry-dock operations.

Construction & Power Plants

The rapid growth of Los Angeles throughout the 20th century created massive demand for construction workers, virtually all of whom handled asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos was present in drywall, floor tiles, roofing materials, cement, pipe insulation, and electrical wiring insulation. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LA DWP) operated multiple power plants across the city where boiler operators, pipe insulators, and maintenance workers were exposed to asbestos in generating equipment and building materials.

Mesothelioma Diagnoses in Los Angeles

California leads the nation in total mesothelioma deaths, and the Los Angeles metropolitan area accounts for a significant share of those diagnoses. The concentration of port operations, aerospace manufacturing, shipyards, and oil refineries in the LA basin exposed a uniquely large and diverse workforce to asbestos over several decades.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers. The disease most commonly affects the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but can also develop in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or testes (testicular mesothelioma). There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and even brief or low-level exposure can cause mesothelioma decades later.

Los Angeles is served by several major cancer treatment centers, including UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, City of Hope National Medical Center, and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Early diagnosis and access to specialized treatment can significantly affect prognosis and quality of life. For detailed information about diagnosis, staging, and treatment options, visit our diagnosis and treatment page.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers Near Los Angeles, California

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma in the Los Angeles area have access to some of the region’s leading cancer treatment facilities. These centers offer specialized thoracic oncology programs, access to clinical trials, and multidisciplinary care teams experienced in treating asbestos-related cancers. Early evaluation at a specialized center can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Family Exposure in Los Angeles

Asbestos exposure in Los Angeles was not limited to the workers themselves. Secondary exposure — also called take-home or household exposure — affected thousands of family members who never set foot in a port, shipyard, aerospace plant, or refinery.

Workers who handled asbestos-containing materials carried microscopic fibers home on their clothing, hair, skin, and personal belongings. When these fibers were released into the home environment — during laundering of work clothes, through physical contact, or simply from the fibers becoming airborne indoors — spouses, children, and other household members inhaled them. Over time, this secondary exposure caused mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases in people who had no direct occupational contact with asbestos.

In densely populated areas of Los Angeles, where workers' homes were often located near industrial zones in communities like San Pedro, Wilmington, Carson, Torrance, and Long Beach, the risk of secondary exposure was particularly high. Families of port workers, shipyard employees, refinery operators, and construction workers across the LA basin may have been exposed without ever knowing it.

Family members who developed mesothelioma through secondary exposure have the same legal rights as workers who were directly exposed. California courts have recognized secondary exposure claims, and families can pursue trust fund claims and lawsuits against the companies that manufactured the asbestos products that were brought into their homes.

Support Groups & Resources for Los Angeles Families

A mesothelioma diagnosis affects the entire family. These organizations provide support, education, counseling, and practical assistance for patients and caregivers.

National Organizations

California Resources