Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Colorado
Colorado's mesothelioma cases stem from a combination of mining operations, military installations, construction activity, and power generation that used asbestos-containing materials for decades. Unlike coastal states where shipyard exposure dominates, Colorado's asbestos history is driven by its mining heritage, its concentration of military bases, and the widespread use of asbestos in commercial construction across its growing cities.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, Colorado's asbestos exposure history is particularly notable because of the state's connection to the Libby, Montana vermiculite disaster. Vermiculite ore mined in Libby was contaminated with tremolite asbestos, and this material was shipped to processing facilities across the country — including operations in Denver. Workers who handled, processed, or transported this contaminated vermiculite inhaled asbestos fibers without any warning about the danger.
The military dimension of Colorado's asbestos exposure is equally significant. The state hosts several major military installations, including the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal near Denver, and the Pueblo Chemical Depot. Buildings, barracks, maintenance facilities, and infrastructure at these bases were constructed with asbestos-containing insulation, floor tiles, roofing materials, and pipe coverings. Service members and civilian employees who lived and worked at these installations over decades were exposed to asbestos during routine maintenance, renovation, and demolition activities.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period
Mesothelioma does not appear immediately after asbestos exposure. The disease has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, meaning workers exposed at Colorado mining operations, military bases, and construction sites during the 1950s through the 1980s are being diagnosed now. A construction worker who installed asbestos insulation in a Colorado Springs commercial building in 1970 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later. This long latency period is why Colorado continues to produce new mesothelioma cases decades after asbestos use was curtailed.
Colorado's growing population also means that many residents who were exposed to asbestos while working in other states have retired or relocated to Colorado. These individuals may develop mesothelioma after moving to the state, creating cases that involve out-of-state exposure but require Colorado-based legal and medical resources.
Colorado's Asbestos Legacy
Colorado's unique combination of vermiculite processing, military installation exposure, and industrial construction created asbestos exposure pathways that affected workers across multiple industries. The state's mining history, particularly the processing of Libby vermiculite in Denver, connected Colorado workers to one of the worst environmental asbestos disasters in American history. If you worked at a mining operation, military base, power plant, or construction site in Colorado, documenting your asbestos exposure history is a critical first step toward understanding your legal options.
