Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Denver
Denver's asbestos exposure history is shaped by a unique convergence of nuclear weapons production, chemical weapons manufacturing, military operations, heavy industry, and railroad operations. The Denver metropolitan area was home to some of the most significant Cold War-era defense facilities in the country, and each one used asbestos extensively in construction and operations. Combined with a robust manufacturing sector and the presence of a major railroad, Denver created widespread occupational asbestos exposure that continues to produce mesothelioma diagnoses decades later.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, workers at Department of Energy nuclear facilities, military installations, and Cold War-era defense plants are among the highest-risk populations for asbestos-related disease in the United States. Denver's concentration of these facilities makes it a particularly significant area for mesothelioma cases in the Mountain West region.
The Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, located 16 miles northwest of Denver, produced plutonium triggers (pits) for nuclear warheads from 1952 to 1989. The facility used asbestos insulation extensively in processing equipment, pipes, buildings, and gloveboxes, exposing thousands of workers to asbestos in addition to radiation hazards. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, northeast of Denver, manufactured chemical weapons including nerve agents and used asbestos in facility infrastructure. Gates Rubber Company operated a massive manufacturing complex in south Denver where asbestos was used in products and facility insulation. Adolph Coors Company in Golden used asbestos in brewing equipment insulation. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad operated maintenance shops throughout the Front Range. Lowry Air Force Base and Fitzsimons Army Medical Center used asbestos in buildings and infrastructure throughout their decades of operation.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. Workers exposed at Rocky Flats, Rocky Mountain Arsenal, or other Denver facilities during the 1960s and 1970s are being diagnosed now. A maintenance worker who serviced asbestos-insulated gloveboxes at Rocky Flats in 1975 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later. Colorado's 2-year statute of limitations makes prompt legal action after diagnosis essential.
Denver's Asbestos Legacy by the Numbers
Rocky Flats employed over 7,000 workers at its peak. Lowry AFB and Fitzsimons together employed thousands of military and civilian personnel. Gates Rubber employed thousands at its Denver complex. Colorado records significant mesothelioma mortality, and the Denver metropolitan area is a primary contributor. If you worked at any major facility in the Denver area, documenting your asbestos exposure history is a critical first step — especially given Colorado's short 2-year filing deadline.