Find a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Big Spring, Texas

Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Big Spring

Cosden Oil & Chemical opened the Big Spring refinery in 1929, making it one of the oldest continuously operating refineries in West Texas. Through ownership changes — Fina in later decades, then Alon USA, then Delek US — the refinery has operated nearly a century. Cosden's historic asbestos use in crude distillation units, reformers, catalytic crackers, heat exchangers, boilers, and pipe systems is documented in federal court cases and Big Spring Herald historical archives.

The Alon USA / Delek Big Spring Refinery continues today as one of Delek US Holdings' four refineries. Over its 95-year history, three generations of Howard County workers have passed through the Big Spring refinery gates. Asbestos insulation, pipe lagging, gaskets, and packing materials were standard in every process unit through the early 1980s, when federal regulations curtailed new asbestos installations in refineries.

Coburn Supply Company oilfield equipment yard and other Big Spring oilfield-services operations serviced the Permian Basin's production infrastructure. Oilfield service workers handling pumps, compressors, wellhead equipment, and downhole tools encountered asbestos-lined gaskets, packing, and brake materials routinely through the 1980s.

The broader Howard County industrial base also included historic cotton gins, rail maintenance facilities (Big Spring sits on the historic Texas & Pacific Railroad mainline), and power generation serving the Permian Basin. All of these operations used asbestos-containing materials during the peak-use era from the 1940s through the early 1980s.

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 Big Spring-area facilities during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are being diagnosed now. A tradesperson who worked around asbestos insulation in Big Spring in 1970 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2026 or later. This long latency period is why Big Spring continues to produce new mesothelioma cases decades after asbestos use was curtailed.

Jobs in Big Spring Linked to Asbestos Exposure

Certain occupations carried a dramatically higher risk of asbestos exposure in the Big Spring area. If you or a family member held any of these positions at a Big Spring-area facility, mesothelioma risk is elevated.

Asbestos & Lung Cancer in Big Spring, Texas: What Families Need to Know

Asbestos exposure doesn't only cause mesothelioma — it is also a proven cause of lung cancer. Workers who were exposed to asbestos in Big Spring, Texas face an elevated risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancer, sometimes decades after their last exposure. An estimated 4,800 Americans die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, making it a significant but often overlooked consequence of occupational asbestos exposure.

How Asbestos Causes Lung Cancer

Unlike mesothelioma, which develops in the lining around the lungs, asbestos-related lung cancer grows inside the lung tissue itself. When microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled, they become embedded in lung tissue and cause chronic inflammation, cellular damage, and DNA mutations that can lead to malignant tumor growth. The latency period is typically 10 to 30 years from first exposure to diagnosis.

Asbestos Lung Cancer vs. Smoking-Related Lung Cancer

Many workers in Big Spring, Texas who were exposed to asbestos were also smokers. Medical research has established that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure creates a synergistic effect, increasing lung cancer risk by 50 to 90 times compared to the general population. Importantly, a smoking history does not disqualify a patient from pursuing asbestos-related compensation. The Helsinki Criteria — the internationally accepted medical standard — provide a framework for determining when asbestos exposure contributed to a lung cancer diagnosis.

Compensation for Lung Cancer Patients in Big Spring, Texas

Asbestos-related lung cancer patients can pursue the same compensation pathways as mesothelioma patients:

• Asbestos trust fund claims — over $30 billion remains available nationally
• Personal injury lawsuits against companies that manufactured or used asbestos products
• Wrongful death claims filed by surviving family members
• VA disability benefits for veterans exposed to asbestos during military service

The statute of limitations in Texas is 2 years from the date of diagnosis. Do not wait to explore your legal options — call 1-800-400-1805 for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.

For more detailed information, visit our asbestos & lung cancer resource page.

Big Spring Veterans & Military Asbestos Exposure

Big Spring hosts one of the largest VA medical centers in West Texas, and the region has a significant veteran population. Many Big Spring-area veterans served in the Navy or Air Force and then returned home to work at the refinery or in the Permian Basin oilfield services industry.

Navy & Military Asbestos Exposure

The U.S. military used asbestos extensively through the 1970s. Veterans who served in the Navy or Air Force and later worked at Cosden, Fina, Alon, or Delek Big Spring may have dual exposure from both military and civilian careers.

Dual Exposure: Military Service Followed by Civilian Work

A common Big Spring pattern involves Navy or Air Force veterans who returned to West Texas and took refinery or oilfield jobs where asbestos exposure continued for 25-40 years.

Veterans with dual exposure histories may be entitled to multiple sources of compensation:

• VA Disability Compensation — Monthly tax-free benefits for service-connected mesothelioma
• VA Healthcare — Treatment at VA medical centers at no cost for service-connected conditions
• Special Monthly Compensation — Additional VA benefits for veterans requiring aid and attendance
• Asbestos Trust Fund Claims — Claims against companies whose products were used in military and civilian industrial settings
• Personal Injury Lawsuits — Civil claims against asbestos product manufacturers and employers

VA Facilities Serving Big Spring

• West Texas VA Health Care System (Big Spring) — Big Spring's own VA medical center, one of the largest VA facilities in West Texas.

Steps Big Spring Families Can Take After Diagnosis

Receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is overwhelming. The following steps provide a clear path forward for Big Spring families facing this diagnosis.

1. Prioritize medical care. Seek treatment from an oncologist experienced with mesothelioma. UT Southwestern in Dallas (295 miles) or MD Anderson in Houston (490 miles) are the primary specialty cancer centers. The West Texas VA in Big Spring and Medical Center Hospital in Odessa (40 miles) provide local care.
2. Document your Big Spring work history. Write down every job you held, every facility where you worked, and every trade you performed. Include dates, employers, contractors, and coworker names.
3. Build an exposure timeline. Note specific tasks that may have involved asbestos: insulation work, pipe fitting, boiler maintenance, turnaround work, or proximity to these activities. Include military service details if applicable.
4. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Texas gives you 2 years from diagnosis to file a personal injury claim. Building a strong case benefits from starting early. Our partner attorneys provide free, no-obligation consultations on a contingency basis.
5. Preserve important documents. Gather old tax returns, union cards, Social Security earnings statements, DD-214 military records, medical records, and job site photographs.
6. Understand your compensation options. Big Spring mesothelioma patients may qualify for personal injury lawsuits, asbestos trust funds (over $30 billion available), workers' compensation, and VA benefits for veterans.