Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Kansas
Kansas earned its identity as the Air Capital of the World through decades of aircraft manufacturing centered in Wichita — an industry where asbestos was used extensively in aircraft components, manufacturing equipment, and facility construction. Beyond aerospace, Kansas's economy relied on oil refining, railroad operations, power generation, and military installations — all industries with documented histories of asbestos use that exposed workers to deadly fibers for decades.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, Kansas aerospace manufacturing facilities and oil refineries represent significant asbestos exposure corridors, with thousands of workers handling asbestos-containing materials throughout the mid-20th century. Workers who built, maintained, and operated these facilities inhaled microscopic asbestos fibers daily, often without any protective equipment or warning about the health consequences.
The peak period of asbestos use in Kansas industry spanned from the 1940s through the early 1980s. During World War II, Wichita's aircraft plants ramped up production dramatically to supply the military with B-29 Superfortress bombers, B-47 Stratojets, and other aircraft. Boeing's Wichita plant alone employed tens of thousands of workers who manufactured aircraft using asbestos brake linings, heat shields, gaskets, and insulation materials. After the war, Cessna, Beechcraft, and other manufacturers continued to use asbestos-containing materials in civilian and military aircraft production.
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 in Kansas aerospace plants and refineries during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are being diagnosed now. An aircraft mechanic who handled asbestos brake linings at a Wichita manufacturing plant in 1970 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later. This long latency period is why Kansas continues to produce new mesothelioma cases decades after asbestos use was curtailed.
The concentration of industrial exposure across Kansas also means that many workers were exposed at multiple facilities over the course of a career. A machinist might have worked at Boeing, then moved to Spirit AeroSystems, and later worked at a Wichita oil refinery — each position adding to the cumulative asbestos burden. This multi-site exposure history is important for legal claims because it can connect a patient to multiple asbestos trust funds and multiple defendants, increasing the total compensation available.
Kansas's Asbestos Legacy by the Numbers
Wichita's aerospace industry produced more aircraft than any other city in the world during much of the 20th century. During peak production periods, tens of thousands of tradespeople worked in environments where asbestos was present in aircraft components, manufacturing equipment, facility insulation, and building materials. Kansas's oil refining sector, centered in the southeastern part of the state, added thousands more exposed workers. Combined with railroad maintenance facilities and military bases like Fort Riley and McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas's asbestos exposure history is substantial. If you worked at any of these facilities, documenting your asbestos exposure history is a critical first step.
