Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Rhode Island

Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Rhode Island

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

Naval Installations

Rhode Island's naval installations represent the state's most significant asbestos exposure sites. Ship maintenance, aircraft operations, and facility construction all involved asbestos-containing materials. Both military personnel and civilian Department of Defense employees were affected.

• Naval Station Newport — One of the Navy's oldest and most important installations; asbestos used in ship maintenance operations, building construction, pipe insulation, boiler systems, and throughout base facilities including the Naval War College
• Quonset Point Naval Air Station (North Kingstown) — Major naval aviation facility operational from 1941 to 1974; asbestos used in aircraft maintenance hangars, building insulation, pipe systems, and facility infrastructure; the "Quonset hut" was designed here and many contained asbestos materials
• Davisville Naval Construction Battalion Center — Adjacent to Quonset Point; Seabee (Naval Construction) training and deployment center with asbestos in buildings and construction materials

Textile Mills

Rhode Island's textile industry was one of the first and largest in America, with mills operating across the state from the early 1800s through the late 20th century. These facilities used asbestos insulation on boilers, steam pipes, and machinery components. Workers who maintained and operated textile equipment faced regular asbestos exposure through contact with insulated steam systems and deteriorating building materials.

Jewelry Manufacturing

Providence and surrounding communities were the center of American jewelry manufacturing for over a century. Jewelry production involved soldering, casting, and metalworking processes that used asbestos in heat-resistant surfaces, soldering pads, crucible insulation, and protective materials. Workers who performed these operations handled asbestos-containing materials daily. The jewelry manufacturing district in Providence employed thousands of workers who were exposed to asbestos in their workshops and factories.

Power Plants

Rhode Island's power generation facilities used asbestos insulation on boilers, turbines, steam pipes, and electrical components. Workers at these plants — including boiler operators, maintenance crews, electricians, and turbine technicians — faced regular asbestos exposure throughout their careers.

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

Types of Mesothelioma Diagnosed in Rhode Island

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. Rhode Island's naval and manufacturing 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 Rhode Island 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. Rhode Island naval workers, textile employees, and jewelry manufacturers 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 a Rhode Island naval installation 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.

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 Rhode Island patients and their families.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in Rhode Island

While Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island and across the country.

Family Members Exposed to Asbestos in Rhode Island

Asbestos exposure in Rhode Island did not stop at the naval base gate or the mill door. 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 Rhode Island's military and industrial communities and has led to mesothelioma diagnoses in people who never worked directly with asbestos.

How Secondary Exposure Occurred

Rhode Island naval workers, textile mill employees, and jewelry factory workers typically arrived home with dust on their clothes 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. Rhode Island's compact geography and close-knit communities meant that many families lived near the workplaces where exposure occurred, and children who greeted parents or played near work clothing were also at risk.

Legal Rights of Rhode Island Families

Rhode Island 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.

Support Groups & Resources for Rhode Island Families

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

National Organizations

Rhode Island Resources