Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Virginia

Major Asbestos Exposure Sites in Virginia

Asbestos was embedded in Virginia's naval, military, and industrial infrastructure for decades. The following categories represent the most significant sources of occupational asbestos exposure across the Commonwealth.

Naval Shipyards

Virginia's naval shipyards are the primary source of asbestos exposure in the state. Ship construction, repair, and overhaul operations involved cutting, shaping, and installing asbestos insulation in virtually every compartment of naval vessels — from engine rooms and boiler rooms to mess halls and sleeping quarters. Workers inhaled asbestos fibers in confined, poorly ventilated spaces for years at a time.

• Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth) — The oldest and one of the largest naval shipyards in the United States; employed over 43,000 workers at peak capacity per WikiMesothelioma.com; asbestos used extensively in every aspect of ship repair and overhaul
• Newport News Shipbuilding (Huntington Ingalls Industries) — America's sole builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and a major submarine construction facility; asbestos was standard in ship insulation, piping, and machinery components for decades

Military Installations

Virginia hosts more military installations than nearly any other state. Asbestos was used in building construction, heating and cooling systems, vehicle maintenance facilities, and specialized military equipment across these bases.

• Naval Station Norfolk — The world's largest naval installation; base infrastructure, maintenance facilities, and shipboard operations all involved asbestos-containing materials
• The Pentagon (Arlington) — Originally constructed in the 1940s with extensive asbestos-containing building materials; renovation and maintenance exposed thousands of military and civilian workers
• Fort Belvoir (Fairfax County) — Army installation with barracks, workshops, and industrial facilities that used asbestos in insulation, flooring, and building materials
• Marine Corps Base Quantico — Training facilities, maintenance shops, and base buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials during the mid-20th century
• Langley Air Force Base (Hampton) — Aircraft maintenance hangars, heating systems, and base facilities contained asbestos insulation and fireproofing materials
• Naval Air Station Oceana (Virginia Beach) — Aircraft maintenance and base facility operations involving asbestos-containing materials

Industrial and Power Facilities

Outside the military sector, Virginia's industrial base — particularly in Richmond and the Hampton Roads region — also contributed to asbestos exposure among civilian workers.

• Virginia Electric and Power Company (Dominion Energy) — Power generation facilities across Virginia with asbestos in boiler insulation, turbine casings, and electrical components
• Richmond Industrial Corridor — Manufacturing, tobacco processing, and railroad maintenance facilities that used asbestos-containing materials throughout their operations
• Norfolk and Western Railway (now Norfolk Southern) — Railroad maintenance shops in Roanoke and Norfolk where asbestos was used in brake linings, pipe insulation, and locomotive components

This is not an exhaustive list. Hundreds of additional military, industrial, and commercial facilities across Virginia used asbestos-containing materials. If you worked or served at any naval installation, military base, shipyard, or industrial site in Virginia before the mid-1980s, asbestos exposure is likely. Our attorneys maintain detailed databases of Virginia exposure sites and can investigate your specific history as part of a free case evaluation. For cases specific to the Norfolk area, see our Norfolk mesothelioma page.

Types of Mesothelioma Diagnosed in Virginia

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. Virginia's naval and military exposure profile produces specific patterns of mesothelioma diagnosis that reflect the types and duration of asbestos contact that shipyard workers, service members, and industrial employees 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 Virginia 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. Virginia shipyard workers, pipefitters, insulators, and military personnel who inhaled asbestos dust over months or years of occupational exposure are at the highest risk for pleural mesothelioma. 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 Virginia naval shipyard or military installation and are experiencing respiratory symptoms, inform your physician about your occupational or service-related 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 compared to earlier treatment methods. 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 Virginia patients and their families.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in Virginia

Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma in Virginia have access to some of the nation’s leading cancer treatment facilities. These centers offer specialized thoracic oncology programs, access to clinical trials, and multidisciplinary care teams experienced in treating asbestos-related cancers. Early evaluation at a specialized center can significantly improve treatment outcomes.

Family Members Exposed to Asbestos in Virginia

Asbestos exposure in Virginia did not stop at the shipyard gate or the base perimeter. For decades, workers and service members 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 extensively in Virginia's shipyard and military communities and has led to mesothelioma diagnoses in people who never set foot in a shipyard or served in the military.

How Secondary Exposure Occurred

Virginia shipyard workers and military maintenance personnel typically arrived home covered in dust that included asbestos fibers. Before the dangers were widely understood, standard practice was for spouses — most often wives — 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. In many Hampton Roads communities, entire neighborhoods were populated by shipyard families, creating a widespread pattern of secondary exposure that affected thousands of households over decades.

Legal Rights of Virginia Families

Virginia 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 a Virginia shipyard worker or military service member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and never worked directly with asbestos, secondary exposure should be investigated. Our attorneys have handled numerous Virginia 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 Virginia Families

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

National Organizations

Virginia Resources