Union Carbide was a chemical manufacturing, mining, and asbestos company. It never made asbestos products but distributed the mineral to many industries, exposing countless workers. Union Carbide later faced thousands of asbestos claims.
If you have asbestosis, mesothelioma, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
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Did Union Carbide Use Asbestos?
Union Carbide didn’t use asbestos in the same way many companies did. Rather than manufacturing products with asbestos, Union Carbide supplied companies with asbestos from 1962 to 1985. It mined asbestos in King City, California, and distributed it.
Union Carbide History
- The Union Carbide & Carbon Corporation was founded in 1917 by merging several companies, including Prest-O-Lite, Linde Air Products, and Electro Metallurgical.
- Union Carbide was founded to manufacture chemicals. In 1920, it opened the first ethylene plant in the U.S. in West Virginia. The plant used a patented process to make the chemical.
- Within a few years, the company began manufacturing additional chemical products. It acquired other chemical companies and the Bakelite Corporation, adding plastics to its product line.
- Throughout the next 40 years, Union Carbide continued to expand substantially. During World War II, the company began manufacturing raw materials and developing plastics. It also began mining uranium ore and then opened several uranium ore plants.
- Union Carbide began mining and processing asbestos in King City, California, in 1962. The asbestos was chrysotile and was marketed under the name Calidria. Union Carbide sold the King City asbestos mine in 1985.
- The distribution of Calidria to other companies eventually caused problems for Union Carbide. When workers started developing asbestos illnesses due to Union Carbide’s products, asbestos-related claims soon followed.
- Dow Chemical acquired Union Carbide for $11 billion in 2001. It remains a subsidiary of Dow and has never filed for bankruptcy or set up an asbestos trust fund.
Products Made With Union Carbide Asbestos
Union Carbide did not make asbestos products. It mined, milled, and distributed asbestos to other companies that used it in many different products, including:
- Adhesive
- Cement
- Coatings
- Insulation
- Joint compound
- Packing
- Paint
- Wallboard
- Wall coatings
Some of the companies that bought asbestos from Union Carbide include Kelly-Moore Paints, Georgia Pacific, and U.S. Gypsum.
What Workers Were Exposed to Union Carbide Asbestos?
Union Carbide workers in the King City mine and who processed or milled the mined asbestos had very high risks of asbestos exposure. Also at risk were all the employees of companies that bought asbestos from Union Carbide.
Any workers who handled asbestos and asbestos materials before the adequate protective gear was readily available risked exposure. They were likely to have released fibers from the asbestos that they inhaled. Anyone working in the area, even those not directly working with asbestos, was likely to have been exposed.
Some of the industries and types of companies Union Carbide distributed asbestos to include:
- Manufacturers of construction products
- Insulation factories
- Textile mills
- Paper mills
- Oil and gas companies
Construction workers had a particularly high risk of exposure to asbestos. They installed, removed, and repaired many asbestos materials that went into residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Union Carbide Asbestos Claims
Union Carbide has been facing mesothelioma and asbestos claims for decades. It has taken on these claims without filing for bankruptcy or setting up an asbestos trust fund. These are just some examples of the many asbestos claims filed against Union Carbide:
- In the most recent case to be resolved, a jury in Los Angeles found in favor of the plaintiff, awarding his family $107 million. Joel Hernandezcueva worked as a janitor and died from mesothelioma in 2014. He was only 45. He was exposed to asbestos in a wall compound that was disturbed during renovations of a building where he worked. The jury found that Union Carbide was liable for his death.
- In 2010, William Aubin received a $6.66 million jury award in a trial against Union Carbide. After working as a contractor for many years and being exposed to asbestos in construction products, Aubin developed mesothelioma. He sued several companies, and Union Carbide was found liable for just less than half of the damages.
- Willis Edenfield died from mesothelioma after working with and around Union Carbide asbestos in factories. His widow sued for wrongful death and recovered $2.38 million from Union Carbide.
What Did Union Carbide Know About the Dangers of Asbestos?
In a 2014 trial, a California jury awarded plaintiff Bobbie Izell $18 million. During the trial, lawyers found that Union Carbide knew a lot about the dangers of asbestos but failed to protect workers.
According to court documents, the jury found that Union Carbide caused “reprehensible indifference to the health and safety of others” after reviewing a series of documents that indicate that “the company was well-aware of the dangers of asbestos, yet continued to place workers at risk for years.”
“[A]s Union Carbide acknowledged, had it warned of the known risk of cancer, the result may have been ‘fatal’ for its asbestos business, but it also likely would have prevented Mr. Izell from being exposed to its dangerous product.”
Hawks Nest Tunnel
Not only did Union Carbide expose thousands of people to asbestos, but between 1927 and 1932, workers were also exposed to silica while mining West Virginia’s Hawks Nest Tunnel (under the direction of Union Carbide).
The company failed to provide workers with protective gear as they worked in the mines. A total of 406 workers died, primarily due to developing silicosis, a fatal lung disease caused by ingesting silica dust.
The devastating tragedy prompted legislation to take notice of the dangers of silica and enforce new laws to help protect workers in the future.
Bhopal, India, and the Union Carbide Disaster
In 1984, Union Carbide was in the hot seat once again after its plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, released gas and injured more than 500,000 people.
Over 3,7000 of those people died, and at least 40,000 were disabled for life. For its negligence, Union Carbide was ordered by the Indian Supreme Court to pay $470 million in 1989.
Union Carbide Today
In 2001, the Dow Chemical Company bought Union Carbide for an estimated $11.6 billion.
Before the purchase, Union Carbide sold off a few of its businesses, leaving Dow Chemical with its electronic chemicals, gasses, polyurethane, and carbon products.
If You Were Exposed to Union Carbide Asbestos
If you developed an asbestos disease through your workplace years ago, there is a chance Union Carbide asbestos contributed. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to determine your legal rights and to seek compensation.
An experienced lawyer can review your work history and find all the companies liable for your asbestos exposure. You could be eligible for a claim or to make a claim with asbestos trust funds.
Resources and Help for Asbestos Victims
Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
References
View All ReferencesUnion Carbide Asbestos FAQs
Did Union Carbide make products that contained asbestos?
Yes. Union Carbide is among the companies linked to asbestos exposure. The specific products involved, and the years they contained asbestos, are described above on this page. Workers who handled or worked near those products, and in some cases their family members, could have been exposed to asbestos fibers.
Can I get compensation for Union Carbide asbestos exposure?
Possibly. If you were exposed to Union Carbide asbestos products and later developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be able to recover compensation. Depending on the company’s status, that can come through a claim, a bankruptcy trust claim, or both. A free case review can confirm which options apply to your exposure.
How do I prove asbestos exposure from Union Carbide?
Exposure is usually documented with your work history, identification of the specific products, the job sites and dates involved, co-worker statements, and your medical records. An asbestos attorney gathers this evidence for you. Speak with a mesothelioma lawyer at no cost to get started.