Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in San Francisco, California

Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in San Francisco

Asbestos was woven into San Francisco's industrial and commercial infrastructure for decades. The following categories represent the most significant sources of occupational asbestos exposure in the city.

Naval Shipyards

San Francisco's naval shipyard complex was one of the largest on the West Coast. Shipyard workers built, repaired, and overhauled naval vessels that contained asbestos insulation in virtually every compartment. The scale and duration of these operations made shipyard employment one of the most dangerous occupational exposures in the city's history.

• Hunters Point Naval Shipyard — Operated from 1941 to 1974; now a federal Superfund site. Tens of thousands of workers were exposed to asbestos during ship construction, repair, and decommissioning. Asbestos was used in pipe insulation, boiler lagging, turbine casings, bulkhead fireproofing, and deck coverings throughout every vessel serviced at the yard.
• Bethlehem Steel Shipyard (Pier 70/Union Iron Works) — One of San Francisco's oldest and most active shipyards, operating along the southeastern waterfront. Bethlehem Steel built and repaired commercial and military vessels using asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and packing materials extensively from the 1940s through the 1970s.

Power Plants

PG&E operated multiple power generation facilities within San Francisco city limits. These plants used asbestos insulation on boilers, turbines, steam pipes, and electrical components. Workers who operated, maintained, and repaired equipment at these facilities faced chronic asbestos exposure.

• PG&E Potrero Power Plant — Located along the southeastern waterfront near Pier 70. Asbestos insulation was used on boilers, steam generators, turbine housings, and piping systems throughout the plant. Maintenance workers and operators who worked in close proximity to deteriorating asbestos insulation faced daily exposure.
• PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant — Adjacent to the naval shipyard in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. This facility used asbestos-containing materials in its generation equipment and building infrastructure for decades. Workers at Hunters Point Power Plant often had overlapping exposure from both the power plant and the nearby naval shipyard.

High-Rise Construction and Commercial Buildings

San Francisco's commercial and residential construction industry used asbestos-containing materials extensively from the 1940s through the early 1980s. The city's continuous urban development meant that construction tradespeople were exposed to asbestos across hundreds of building projects.

• TransAmerica Pyramid and Financial District High-Rises — San Francisco's major high-rise buildings, including the iconic TransAmerica Pyramid and dozens of office towers in the Financial District, were constructed using asbestos-containing fireproofing, insulation, floor tiles, and building materials. Workers who built, maintained, and later renovated these structures handled asbestos products directly.
• Residential and Commercial Renovation — Older buildings throughout San Francisco contain asbestos in floor tiles, pipe insulation, plaster, roof materials, and heating system components. Construction workers, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians who renovated or demolished these structures disturbed asbestos materials and inhaled fibers in the process.

This is not an exhaustive list. Hundreds of additional commercial, industrial, and residential sites across San Francisco used asbestos-containing materials. If you worked in construction, shipbuilding, power generation, or building maintenance in San Francisco before the mid-1980s, asbestos exposure is likely. Our attorneys maintain detailed databases of San Francisco exposure sites and can investigate your specific work history as part of a free case evaluation.

Types of Mesothelioma Diagnosed in San Francisco

Mesothelioma develops when inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers become embedded in the lining of internal organs, causing cellular damage that leads to malignant tumor growth over decades. San Francisco's industrial exposure profile — dominated by shipyard work, power plant operations, and construction trades — produces specific patterns of mesothelioma diagnosis that reflect the types and duration of asbestos contact workers experienced.

Pleural Mesothelioma (Lungs)

Pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 75 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses and is the most common form seen in San Francisco patients. This type develops in the pleura — the thin membrane surrounding the lungs — when inhaled asbestos fibers migrate to the pleural lining and cause chronic inflammation and eventual malignancy. San Francisco shipyard workers, construction tradespeople, and power plant employees who inhaled asbestos dust over months or years of occupational exposure are at the highest risk. Symptoms typically include persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusion).

Early detection significantly affects treatment options and prognosis. If you worked at a San Francisco shipyard, power plant, or construction site and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, inform your physician about your occupational asbestos exposure history. UCSF Medical Center is one of the Bay Area's leading cancer treatment facilities with specific expertise in mesothelioma. Visit our diagnosis and treatment page for more information about the diagnostic process and available treatment approaches.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Abdomen)

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum — the lining of the abdominal cavity — and accounts for approximately 15 to 20 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses. Asbestos fibers can reach the peritoneum through ingestion (swallowing fibers cleared from the airways) or through the lymphatic system. Symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, unexplained weight loss, bowel changes, and fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma has advanced significantly, with cytoreductive surgery combined with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) showing improved survival rates. Regardless of the type of mesothelioma diagnosed, the same legal options — personal injury lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims, and VA benefits for veterans — are available to San Francisco patients and their families. Remember that California's 1-year statute of limitations applies to all mesothelioma types.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers Near San Francisco, California

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma in the San Francisco 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 Members Exposed to Asbestos in San Francisco

Asbestos exposure in San Francisco extended far beyond shipyard gates and construction sites. For decades, workers carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, hair, and personal items — unknowingly exposing their families to the same deadly material they encountered at work. This pattern, known as secondary or take-home exposure, has been documented extensively in San Francisco's industrial community and has led to mesothelioma diagnoses in people who never worked at a shipyard or construction site.

How Secondary Exposure Occurred

San Francisco shipyard workers, construction tradespeople, and power plant employees typically arrived home covered in dust that included asbestos fibers. Before the dangers were widely understood, spouses routinely shook out, brushed off, and laundered contaminated work clothes at home. This process released asbestos fibers into household air, where family members inhaled them. Children who greeted parents at the door, sat in their laps, or played near contaminated clothing were also exposed. Workers' vehicles served as an additional exposure pathway, with asbestos fibers accumulating in car interiors shared by family members.

Legal Rights of San Francisco Families

California courts have issued landmark rulings recognizing secondary asbestos exposure as a valid basis for mesothelioma claims. Family members who developed mesothelioma from take-home asbestos exposure have the same legal right to pursue compensation as the workers themselves. These claims can be filed against the companies that manufactured asbestos products, employers who failed to prevent fibers from leaving the workplace, and the asbestos trust funds established through bankruptcy proceedings.

If a spouse, child, or other family member of a San Francisco worker has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and never worked directly with asbestos, secondary exposure should be investigated immediately. California's 1-year statute of limitations applies to secondary exposure claims as well.

Support Groups & Resources for San Francisco 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