Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Paducah
Paducah's mesothelioma risk is driven primarily by the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a Department of Energy uranium enrichment facility that operated from 1952 until 2013. For over six decades, the plant enriched uranium for nuclear weapons and civilian nuclear power, using a gaseous diffusion process that required miles of piping insulated with asbestos-containing materials. Thousands of workers who built, maintained, and operated this facility were exposed to asbestos fibers as a routine part of their employment.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, gaseous diffusion plants are among the most heavily asbestos-contaminated industrial facilities in the United States because of the enormous volumes of insulated process piping required for uranium enrichment. The Paducah plant, along with its sister facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Portsmouth, Ohio, exposed a combined workforce of tens of thousands to occupational asbestos over multiple decades.
Beyond the gaseous diffusion plant, the TVA Shawnee Steam Plant — a coal-fired power generating station located near Paducah — used asbestos extensively in its boilers, turbines, and steam systems. Martin Marietta operated facilities in the area, and the Illinois Central Railroad maintained shops and yards in Paducah where workers were exposed to asbestos in locomotive insulation, brake linings, and building materials.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period and Kentucky's Urgent Deadline
Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. Workers exposed at the Paducah plant during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are being diagnosed with mesothelioma now. A pipefitter who installed asbestos insulation at PGDP in 1975 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later.
Kentucky has a 1-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including mesothelioma. This is one of the shortest filing deadlines in the country. Every month after diagnosis without legal consultation reduces the time available to build a case, identify responsible parties, and file necessary claims. Paducah families must act immediately.
URGENT: Kentucky's 1-Year Statute of Limitations
Kentucky gives mesothelioma patients only 1 year from diagnosis to file a personal injury claim. Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers may also qualify for EEOICPA federal compensation ($150,000–$250,000+ plus medical benefits). Both state and federal claims should be initiated promptly. Call 1-800-400-1805 for a free, immediate case evaluation.