Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Oregon

Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Oregon

Asbestos was deeply embedded in Oregon's industrial infrastructure for decades. The following categories represent the most significant sources of occupational asbestos exposure across the state.

Shipyards (Portland)

Portland's shipyards were the most significant asbestos exposure sites in Oregon. During World War II, the Portland metropolitan area became one of the largest shipbuilding centers in the nation. Workers who built, repaired, and maintained ships were exposed to asbestos insulation in engine rooms, boiler rooms, pipe systems, and throughout ship superstructures.

• Kaiser/Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation — Located on the Willamette River in Portland, this was one of the largest wartime shipyards in the nation; built hundreds of Liberty ships and other vessels using asbestos insulation throughout every ship
• Swan Island Shipyard (Kaiser) — Another major Kaiser shipyard in Portland; built tankers and escort carriers with extensive asbestos-containing materials in all compartments
• Willamette Iron & Steel Works — Portland-based ship construction and heavy industrial manufacturing with asbestos use in shipbuilding and equipment fabrication
• Commercial Iron Works — Portland shipbuilding and repair facility with documented asbestos use in vessel construction and maintenance

Lumber and Paper Mills

Oregon's timber and paper industry was one of the largest in the nation, with mills operating across the state from the early 1900s through the present day. These facilities used asbestos insulation on boilers, steam pipes, turbines, drying equipment, and in building materials. Workers who maintained and operated this equipment faced regular asbestos exposure.

• Weyerhaeuser Mills — Multiple Oregon locations with asbestos insulation in boilers, pipe systems, and industrial equipment
• Georgia-Pacific Facilities — Paper and wood products manufacturing with asbestos in processing equipment insulation and building materials
• Boise Cascade Mills — Lumber and paper production facilities with asbestos insulation in high-temperature equipment and steam systems
• Pope & Talbot Mills — Lumber operations in Oregon with asbestos-containing materials in facility equipment and structures

Power Plants (PGE)

Portland General Electric (PGE) and other utilities operated coal-fired and gas-fired power plants across Oregon that used asbestos insulation on boilers, turbines, steam pipes, and electrical components. Maintenance workers, electricians, and operators at these facilities faced regular asbestos exposure.

• PGE Generating Stations — Multiple power plants across Oregon with asbestos in boiler insulation, turbine casings, pipe lagging, and electrical wiring insulation
• PacifiCorp Facilities — Power generation and distribution infrastructure with asbestos in high-temperature equipment

Vermiculite Processing

Oregon was a site of vermiculite processing, and some vermiculite ore contained naturally occurring asbestos fibers, particularly ore shipped from the contaminated W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana. Workers who handled, processed, and applied vermiculite-based products were exposed to tremolite asbestos fibers during these operations.

This is not an exhaustive list. Additional industrial facilities across Oregon used asbestos-containing materials. If you worked at any shipyard, mill, power plant, or industrial site in Oregon before the mid-1980s, asbestos exposure is likely. Our attorneys maintain detailed databases of Oregon exposure sites and can investigate your specific work history as part of a free case evaluation.

Types of Mesothelioma Diagnosed in Oregon

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. Oregon's shipbuilding, timber, and industrial exposure profile 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 Oregon 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. Oregon shipyard workers, mill workers, 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 an Oregon shipyard, mill, or industrial facility and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, inform your physician about your occupational asbestos exposure history. 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 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 Oregon patients and their families.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in Oregon

While Oregon does not currently have NCI-designated mesothelioma specialty centers, patients have access to the nation’s top treatment programs. Many of these leading cancer centers accept out-of-state patients and can coordinate care with local oncologists. Below are nationally recognized mesothelioma treatment centers that serve patients from Oregon and across the country.

Family Members Exposed to Asbestos in Oregon

Asbestos exposure in Oregon did not stop at the shipyard gate or the mill fence. 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 in Oregon's shipbuilding and industrial communities and has led to mesothelioma diagnoses in people who never set foot in a shipyard or mill.

How Secondary Exposure Occurred

Oregon shipyard workers, mill employees, and power plant workers typically arrived home covered in dust that included asbestos fibers. Before the dangers were widely understood, standard practice was for spouses to shake out, brush off, and launder contaminated work clothes at home. This process released asbestos fibers into the 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.

Legal Rights of Oregon Families

Oregon courts recognize 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 the asbestos products, the 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 an Oregon industrial worker has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and never worked directly with asbestos, secondary exposure should be investigated. Our attorneys have handled numerous secondary exposure cases and understand the specific evidence required to establish the connection between a worker's occupational exposure and a family member's diagnosis.

Support Groups & Resources for Oregon Families

A mesothelioma diagnosis affects the entire family. These organizations provide support, education, counseling, and practical assistance for patients and caregivers.

National Organizations

Oregon Resources