Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact
  • Home
  • ›
  • Asbestos
  • ›
  • Occupational Exposure
  • ›
  • Prisons
Page Updated: June 22, 2022

Asbestos Exposure in Prisons

Dave Foster Page Edited by Patient Advocate Dave Foster

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Fact Checked

This page has been fact checked by an experienced mesothelioma Patient Advocate. Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date.

Please Contact Us with any questions or comments.

Asbestos exposure in prisons is an ongoing risk for workers and inmates. Before the mid-1970s, no restrictions on asbestos use in construction existed, which is still present in many older buildings.[1] This includes prisons, and it puts employees and inmates at risk of developing serious health conditions, like mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

America Flag being prison gates

Asbestos Use in Older Buildings

Asbestos is a natural mineral. Because it is abundant and cheap, it has been mined for extensive use in various applications. It is lightweight yet adds strength and durability to building materials. Asbestos also resists heat, fire, electricity, and chemical reactions.

These properties make it useful for construction. Although asbestos is currently regulated, it can still be found in many older buildings that have not seen renovations in recent years.

When asbestos in older buildings is disturbed, it can release dangerous fibers into the air. Once these tiny fibers become airborne, it is easy for people in the vicinity to inhale them and become sick as a result.[2]

When asbestos is contained, it is basically harmless; however, it is not uncommon for asbestos-containing materials in older buildings to be damaged, broken, or to decay with time. Any renovation or construction work in older buildings increases the risks of exposure.[1]

Where Asbestos May Be Found in Prisons

Asbestos can be found in several places. Prisons and jails built before the mid-1970s most likely contain asbestos. Because asbestos was commonly used for insulation, the walls and ceilings of older buildings and around pipes, ducts, and furnaces may contain asbestos.

In older prisons, there may be asbestos in roofing materials, ceiling tiles, floor tiles and adhesives, spray-on coatings, plaster, cement, caulk, and putty.

Prison roofs are especially likely to contain asbestos. They often used asphalt shingles made with asbestos.[3] There may also be asbestos in paint, often flaking off walls and other painted surfaces.

Prisoner Exposure

Prisoners risk asbestos exposure by living in buildings that contain these materials; however, if asbestos materials are undamaged, the risk remains low. Prisoners may be at greater risk of exposure than residents living in older houses for several reasons:

  • One is a lack of prison maintenance. Because maintenance can break down older materials, releasing asbestos fibers, this can affect prisoners; however, prisoners also have less control over their surroundings and limited ability to make improvements.
  • Another way prisoners may be exposed is through the work they perform. Prisoners may be required to perform maintenance, repair, or renovation work on the prison building. If this is done without protective gear or proper asbestos training, they may be at risk for exposure and resulting illnesses.
  • Some prisoners are sent to do off-site work that may put them at risk for exposure as well.
  • Even prisoners who are not working may be exposed when asbestos is disrupted, and fibers are sent circulating through the air.

Employee Exposure

Prisoners are not the only ones at risk in older buildings. Corrections officers and other prison employees also risk exposure. If they have not been trained to identify asbestos, they can be exposed by breathing the air around damaged asbestos.

Supervising prisoners who are doing work that exposes asbestos can also put them at risk. Both prisoners and employees have the right to safety. They risk exposure and illness when they are not warned about asbestos or trained to work with it.

Legal Cases of Asbestos Exposure in Prisons

Although corrections officers may be exposed to asbestos on the job, prisoners are the most vulnerable. Several prisoners have brought lawsuits after exposure and resulting illnesses.

In one case, the Kansas Supreme Court granted the prisoner’s right to sue the Lansing Correctional Facility. The inmate spent most of his days in the facility, studying in the prison’s law library. He claimed when officers searched the library weekly for contraband, insulation containing asbestos fell from the ceiling tiles and onto his workspace.[4]

After more than ten years, the Environmental Protection Agency determined the facility had violated the Clean Air Act. The facility was then required to abate asbestos from several locations, including the library ceiling.

After exhausting administrative options and a dismissal of the case, the state Supreme Court reversed the decision. Now the former prisoner is allowed to sue for medical care and damages.[5]

There have been many other cases like this filed by inmates; however, a government agency steps in to protect prisoners in some cases. In Arkansas, the state Department of Environmental Quality fined the city of Pine Bluff for failing to protect prisoners and parolees performing demolition in the city.

The prisoners were part of a re-entry work program but were not adequately protected from asbestos in older buildings. Now they may suffer serious health problems as a result.[6]

Asbestos can be found in many old buildings, including prisons. Often prisons are overlooked for renovations and abatement in favor of other government buildings or schools. This puts both prisoners and prison workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Both prisoners and employees can file lawsuits to receive justice and compensation if they develop diseases like mesothelioma due to their exposure.

Get Your FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Page Edited by Patient Advocate Dave Foster

Dave Foster

Dave has been a mesothelioma Patient Advocate for over 10 years. He consistently attends all major national and international mesothelioma meetings. In doing so, he is able to stay on top of the latest treatments, clinical trials, and research results. He also personally meets with mesothelioma patients and their families and connects them with the best medical specialists and legal representatives available.

Connect with Patient Advocate Dave Foster

References
  1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2018, September 17). Learn About Asbestos.
    Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos
  2. National Cancer Institute. (2017, June 7). Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk.
    Retrieved from: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet
  3. Shingle Recycling. (2013, May 8). Asbestos in Asphalt Shingles.
    Retrieved from: https://www.shinglerecycling.org/content/asbestos-asphalt-shingles
  4. Wingerter, J. (2016, December 1). Lansing Inmate’s Asbestos Lawsuit Can Move Ahead, Kansas Supreme Court Says. Topeka Capital-Journal.
    Retrieved from: https://cjonline.com/news/2016-12-01/lansing-inmate-s-asbestos-lawsuit-can-move-ahead-kansas-supreme-court-says
  5. Prison Legal News. (2011, December 15). U.S. EPA Takes Action Against Kansas Prison for Asbestos Violations.
    Retrieved from: https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2011/dec/15/us-epa-takes-action-against-kansas-prison-for-asbestos-violations/
  6. Associated Press. (2017, February 2). Pine Bluff Sanctioned over Possible Asbestos Exposure.
    Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/637f9ad1f0574704a39fe20a2885189a
View All References

Site Navigation

Home
Malignant Mesothelioma
How to Survive Mesothelioma
100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
Surviving Mesothelioma - Beating the Odds (Free Book)
FREE Mesothelioma Packet
Symptoms
Shortness of Breath
Cough
Night Sweats and Fever
Weight Loss
Pain
Difficulty Swallowing
Fatigue and Muscle Weakness
Gastrointestinal Complications
Diagnosis
Pathology
Staging
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Metastasis and Progression
Brain Metastasis
Biopsy
miRview Test
Imaging
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Mesothelioma
Biomarkers and Blood Tests
Calretinin
Prognosis
Remission
Recurrence
Death Rate
Life Expectancy
Search for a Mesothelioma Cure
Types
Pleural
Peritoneal
Epithelioid
Sarcomatoid
Biphasic
Pericardial
Testicular
Cell Types
Rare Subtypes of Mesothelioma
Deciduoid
Desmoplastic
Heterologous
Lymphohistiocytoid
Well-Differentiated Papillary
Tubulopapillary
Small Cell
Benign
Adenomatoid
Cystic
Unresectable
Localized
Idiopathic
Omental
Causes
Risk Factors
Latest Research
Genetic Components
Incidence
Latency Period
Mesothelioma Tumor
Health Insurance Coverage
Related Conditions
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Cholangiocarcinoma
Atelectasis
Pleural Plaques
Pleural Thickening
Pleural Effusion
Peritoneal Effusion (Ascites)
Mesothelial Hyperplasia and Proliferation
Pleuritis and Pleurisy
COPD
Anemia
Breast Cancer
Prevention
Complications
Misdiagnosis
Mesothelioma Commercial
Talcum Baby Powder
Lawyer
Lawsuits
Class Action Lawsuits
Settlements
Simian Virus 40
Differences From Other Cancers
Lung Cancer
Women
Children and Young Adults
Unknown Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma Without Asbestos
Cause of Death
Facts 
History
Awareness
Government and Research
National Mesothelioma Virtual Bank
Support
What to Expect
Living with Mesothelioma
Help a Loved One
Wrong and Right Things to Say
Caregivers
Financial Tips
Faith
Nutrition and Lifestyle
Intimacy
Mesothelioma and Fertility in Men
Fertility in Women with Mesothelioma
Emotional Health
COVID-19
Assisted Living
Hospice Care
Dying from Mesothelioma
Mourning
Coping Guide for Children
End-of-Life Decisions
Mesothelioma Awareness Day
Compensation for Victims
Lawyer
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington D.C.
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Lawsuit
Settlements
Statute of Limitations
Treatment
Surgery
Side Effects
Pneumonectomy
Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Lobectomy
Pleurectomy/Decortication
Post Op Care
Pleurectomy/Decortication vs. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy
Peritonectomy/Cytoreductive Surgery
Thoracotomy
Thoracoscopy
Pericardiectomy
Wedge Resection
Pleurodesis
Pericardiocentesis
Prosthetics
Paracentesis
Thoracentesis
Chemotherapy
Side Effects
Heated Intraperitoneal
Radiation Therapy
Side Effects
Intensity-Modulated
Brachytherapy
Proton Therapy
Image-Guided
External Beam
Three-Dimensional
Multimodal Therapy
New Treatments
SMART Protocol
Gene Therapy
Suicide Gene Therapy
Tumor-Based p53 Therapy
Cryotherapy for Mesothelioma
Tumor Treating Fields
MicroRNA
Palliative Treatment
Osteopathic
Doctors
Treatment Centers
Treatment & Doctors Near You
Mesothelioma Experts
Medications
Alimta (pemetrexed)
Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
Avastin (bevacizumab)
Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide)
Gemzar (gemcitabine)
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
Mitomycin
Navelbine (vinorelbine)
Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab)
Paraplatin (carboplatin)
Platinol (cisplatin)
Rheumatrex (methotrexate)
Sutent (sunitinib)
Taxol (paclitaxel)
Medical Marijuana
Care Providers
Clinical Trials
Anetumab Ravtansine
Atezolizumab
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell
Durvalumab
Immunotoxin
Interferon Alfa-2b
Onconase (Ranpirnase)
VISTA Protein
Costs
Immunotherapy
Nanotechnology
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Home Medical Equipment
HMGB1 Secretion
Photodynamic Therapy
Targeted Therapies
Apoptosis
Stem Cells
Lung Transplantation
Body-Based Therapies
Alternative Therapies
Paul Kraus’s Method
Doctors and Treatment in Canada
Asbestos Trusts
Veterans
VA Claims for Mesothelioma
Vietnam Veterans
Military Branches and Asbestos
Navy Veterans
Navy Ships
Aircraft Carriers
Battleships
Destroyers
Asbestos on Navy Cruisers
Submarines
Amphibious Ships
Minesweepers
Auxiliary Ships
Marine Corps Veterans
Army Veterans
Air Force Veterans
U.S. Coast Guard
Asbestos
Occupational Exposure
Construction Workers
Shipyard Workers
Ship Repair
Steel Mill Workers
Industrial Workers
Boiler Workers
Power Plant Workers
Firefighters
Automotive Workers
Roofers
Oil Refineries
Mining
Transportation Industry
Machine Operators
Farmers and Agricultural Workers
Migrant Workers
Electrical Wiring
Labor Unions
Prisons
Chimneys, Furnaces, and Wood Stoves
Fiberglass Connection to Mesothelioma
Home Remodeling
School Buildings, Teachers
For Tech Students
Cancer
Lung Cancer
Pleural Based Cancers
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
Companies That Used Asbestos
Awareness and Education
Types of Asbestos & Mesothelioma Risk
Asbestosis
Interstitial Lung Disease
Smoking
Asbestos Ingestion
Exposure in a Natural Disaster
Ban Asbestos
Libby, Montana
Recycling Asbestos
Asbestos Detection
Legal Information by State
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
Australia
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net