Boston has always been home to manufacturing, industrial, shipbuilding, and construction industries. Unfortunately, many of these work sites were filled with asbestos. People who have been injured by asbestos are now fighting for justice with the help of an experienced Boston mesothelioma lawyer.
If you or someone you love suffers from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Boston, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Boston Asbestos Facts
- Between 1999 and 2017, more than 8,000 people died from asbestos-related illnesses in Massachusetts.
- This included mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
- As an important port city, Boston’s shipping industry has been responsible for a major portion of the area’s asbestos exposure.
How Did I Get Mesothelioma?
If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you probably worked with or around asbestos in the past. Many Boston workplaces used asbestos, including shipyards, construction sites, and industrial plants.
Asbestos is made up of little fibers that shed easily into the air where workers can breathe them in. Once in the body, the fibers cause damage. This leads to illnesses like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis in some people.
When Should I Contact a Boston Mesothelioma Lawyer?
Contact a local mesothelioma lawyer as soon as you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis. You can also talk to a lawyer if you know you worked around asbestos and are concerned you might get sick.
It costs nothing to consult with a mesothelioma lawyer, so don’t hesitate to reach out. Time is limited, and you could miss your opportunity to file a lawsuit or make a claim.
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Boston?
There are many potential sites of asbestos exposure in and around Boston. Many industries and workplaces used asbestos through the 1970s. Boston’s long history of shipping is one major source of asbestos. Others include mineral processing, construction, and industrial manufacturing.
Bethlehem Hingham Shipping Yard
Established in 1913, Bethlehem Hingham Shipping Yard once employed over 24,000 workers who built destroyer ships and war vessels. When the shipping yard closed in 1986, more than 220 ships had been built there.
From its inception until the late 1970s, the shipping yard used asbestos in many materials and parts, including gaskets, boiler components, electrical insulation, coatings, and more. Workers were exposed to the dangerous asbestos fibers day after day, year after year.
Consequently, former employees of the shipping yard later developed dangerous asbestos-related diseases, including peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, and asbestosis.
Charlestown Navy Yard
The Charlestown Navy Yard, a ship repair business, opened in Boston during the early 1800s. After the Civil War, the yard’s work began in decline, so it shifted focus to shipbuilding.
Thousands of workers built ships, including steel-hulled warships. As with the Bethlehem Hingham Shipping Yard, the Charlestown Navy Yard also used asbestos in parts, machinery, and equipment.
Asbestos in Boston Buildings
Many of Boston’s public buildings were also constructed using asbestos. Most of these buildings are still in use today, including:
Schools
- Boston Latin School
- Boston University
- Harvard School of Public Health
- Harvard Medical School
- John W. McCormack Graduate School
- Katharine Gibbs School
- McMenamins-Kennedy School
- South Boston High School
- Law School at Suffolk University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Hospitals
- Beth Israel
- Boston City (closed in 1996)
- Boston State Hospital (closed in 1979)
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Children’s Hospital Boston
- Massachusetts General Hospital
Additional Public Buildings
- Boston City Hall Annex
- Boston Federal Building
- Boston Symphony Hall
- Boston Municipal Auditorium
- Cutler Majestic Theater
- Museum of Science
- New England Aquarium
- Park Square Building
Asbestos in older buildings continues to be a problem for residents and workers in Boston. In 2023, Boston University faced asbestos controversy after renovating a student residence.
Students claimed construction work went on in neighboring rooms for a week or more before the university warned that asbestos was involved. They filed a complaint with the university and were relocated until the building was safe.
W.R. Grace Asbestos Cover Up
For decades W.R. Grace and Co. mined materials contaminated with asbestos and manufactured chemicals and products using asbestos. Through numerous workplaces across the U.S., the company exposed thousands of workers to asbestos.
The Boston Globe broke the story that the company knew about asbestos and its harmful fibers used in one of its best-selling products: Zonolite Attic Insulation.
Globe reporters found internal documents proving the company knew of the health hazards associated with the insulation by 1977. They kept selling the product for seven years after that.
Mesothelioma Treatment in Boston
When seeking treatment for asbestos-related diseases such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis, look for experienced physicians who specialize and have in-depth knowledge of these types of illnesses.
Boston has a few excellent cancer centers that can treat mesothelioma patients:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber is affiliated with the Harvard Cancer Center. Together, they offer comprehensive cancer care, cancer research, and clinical trials.
In addition to pleural mesothelioma, specialists at Dana-Farber treat the rarer peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the abdomen. Patients benefit from multidisciplinary teams that use a variety of treatment approaches.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brigham and Women’s is particularly important for mesothelioma patients in Boston. It hosts the International Mesothelioma Program as well as a Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program with HIPEC treatment.
VA Boston Healthcare System
For Boston-area veterans, the VA provides world-class mesothelioma care. VA Boston includes a minimally-invasive thoracic surgery department directed by Dr. Abraham Lebenthal, a pleural mesothelioma specialist.
Getting Legal Help in Boston
While it’s important to seek medical assistance if you’ve been exposed to asbestos, it’s also important to understand your legal rights and options. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.
