Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Wyoming

Major Asbestos Exposure Sites in Wyoming

Asbestos was embedded in Wyoming's mining, refining, and transportation infrastructure for decades. The following categories represent the most significant sources of occupational asbestos exposure across the state.

Mining Operations

Wyoming's coal and trona mining industries exposed workers to asbestos through equipment, infrastructure, and processing facilities rather than through the minerals themselves.

• Powder River Basin coal mines (Campbell County) — The largest coal-producing region in the United States; surface mining equipment, processing plants, and facility buildings used asbestos in brake systems, insulation, and construction materials
• Trona/soda ash mines (Green River Basin) — The world's largest trona deposit; underground mining operations with asbestos in equipment, processing plant insulation, and facility buildings
• Underground coal mines (statewide) — Equipment brake systems, conveyor components, mine building insulation, and electrical systems containing asbestos

Oil Refineries

Wyoming's oil refineries used asbestos insulation in piping, boilers, heat exchangers, and processing equipment throughout their facilities.

• Sinclair Refinery (Sinclair, Carbon County) — One of Wyoming's major oil refineries with decades of asbestos use in pipe insulation, boiler systems, gaskets, and processing equipment
• Frontier Oil Refinery (Cheyenne) — Refining operations with asbestos-containing insulation in processing equipment and facility infrastructure
• Wyoming Refining (Newcastle) — Small refinery with asbestos in standard industrial insulation and equipment materials

Railroad Facilities

Railroad operations are a major part of Wyoming's economy, transporting coal and minerals across the state and nation. Railroad maintenance operations used asbestos extensively.

• Union Pacific Railroad (statewide operations) — Major railroad with Wyoming operations; asbestos used in brake linings, locomotive insulation, pipe coverings, and maintenance shop equipment
• BNSF Railway (Powder River Basin) — Coal transportation railroad with asbestos in brake systems and locomotive components

Power Plants

• Dave Johnston Power Plant (Glenrock) — Coal-fired power plant with asbestos in boiler insulation, turbine casings, and steam piping
• Naughton Power Plant (Kemmerer) — Generating station with asbestos-containing insulation in boilers and equipment
• Jim Bridger Power Plant (Point of Rocks) — Major coal-fired generating station with asbestos in boiler and turbine insulation
• Laramie River Station (Wheatland) — Coal-fired power plant with asbestos insulation throughout generating equipment

Military Installation

• F.E. Warren Air Force Base (Cheyenne) — One of the oldest active military installations in the U.S.; historic buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials; missile facility construction and base maintenance involved asbestos exposure for military personnel and civilian workers

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

Types of Mesothelioma Diagnosed in Wyoming

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. Wyoming's mining, refining, and industrial exposure profile produces patterns of mesothelioma diagnosis that reflect the types and duration of asbestos contact across these industries.

Pleural Mesothelioma (Lungs)

Pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 75 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses and is the most common form seen in Wyoming patients. This type develops in the pleura — the thin membrane surrounding the lungs — when inhaled asbestos fibers cause chronic inflammation and eventual malignancy. Wyoming miners, refinery workers, railroad employees, and power plant workers who inhaled asbestos dust are at the highest risk. Symptoms typically include persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss, and fluid buildup around the lungs.

Early detection significantly affects treatment options and prognosis. If you worked at a Wyoming mine, refinery, railroad facility, or power plant 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.

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 Wyoming patients and their families.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in Wyoming

While Wyoming 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 Wyoming and across the country.

Family Members Exposed to Asbestos in Wyoming

Asbestos exposure in Wyoming did not stop at the mine entrance or the refinery gate. For decades, workers carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, hair, and personal items — unknowingly exposing their families to the same deadly material. This pattern, known as secondary or take-home exposure, has been documented in Wyoming's mining and industrial communities and has led to mesothelioma diagnoses in people who never worked directly with asbestos.

How Secondary Exposure Occurred

Wyoming miners, refinery workers, and railroad employees typically arrived home covered in dust that included asbestos fibers. In small Wyoming communities built around a mine or industrial facility, spouses who laundered contaminated work clothes released asbestos fibers into the household air. Children who greeted parents at the door or played near contaminated clothing were also exposed.

Legal Rights of Wyoming Families

Wyoming 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. If a spouse, child, or other family member of a Wyoming industrial worker has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and never worked directly with asbestos, secondary exposure should be investigated.

Support Groups & Resources for Wyoming Families

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

National Organizations

Wyoming Resources