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
Page Updated: January 29, 2022

Consolidated Steel Corporation

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.

cargo ship
Attribution: U.S. Navy Public Domain

Consolidated Steel Shipyard, also known as Consolidated Steel Corporation, built ships for the military in California and Texas. Its heavy use of asbestos, particularly during World War II, left many shipyard workers battling fatal asbestos illnesses.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

About Consolidated Steel Corporation

Consolidated Steel Corporation was both a steel and shipbuilding business. It formed in 1929 after Baker Iron Works, Llewellyn Iron Works, and Union Iron Works merged their operations.[1]

It started in Long Beach, California, but in 1941, a new shipyard, funded by United States Maritime Commission (USMC), was built in Wilmington, California.[1] The shipyard was known as an “emergency yard” where it worked on and delivered vessels for the U.S. Navy.[2]

Consolidated Steel Corporation also opened a fabrication plant in Orange, Texas, in 1941. Within a year of opening its doors in Texas, workers started constructing ships. The Orange shipyard employed around 20,000 workers as production needs started to increase.[3]

At its peak, more than 30,000 people worked at the shipyards. The shipyards, however, only lasted until 1945, but during the time of its operations, many workers continuously faced asbestos exposure without ever knowing it at the time.

Consolidated Steel Corporation and Asbestos

Insulation installers faced the highest risk of asbestos exposure and developing an asbestos-related illness. Still, many other workers were also at risk, such as pipefitters, construction workers, general laborers, electricians, carpenters, and more.[4]

Asbestos was once used everywhere at both of the shipyard’s locations. From insulation, pipes, wiring, machinery, construction materials, and more, it was hard to find materials at the shipyard that did not contain the toxic asbestos.

Insulation was the main asbestos-containing product that caused the most asbestos exposure at Consolidated Steel. Asbestos-filled insulation was used all over the shipyard, including in pipes and walls, construction materials, wiring, machinery, equipment, and much more.

After a while, many of the shipyard employees and contractors started developing harmful diseases associated with asbestos exposure, such as malignant mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

Although odorless, microscopic, and undetectable by the human eye, asbestos fibers are the reasons for thousands upon thousands of deaths. The tiny fibers are easily breathed in, and once inside the body, it’s almost impossible to dispel them all.[5]

As time goes by, these tiny fibers create havoc inside the body. They lodge onto the linings of major organs and create scarring. The scarring eventually turns into cancerous cells and tumors.[5]

Most shipyard workers who sought justice filed lawsuits against the manufacturers who sold and shipped asbestos materials to the shipyards.

Asbestos manufacturer Johns Manville was one of many asbestos suppliers to the shipyard. Johns Manville denied its responsibility initially. The company claimed ignorance of the dangers of asbestos.

A company representative even cited scientific data that stated there wasn’t enough provable information that showed asbestos was harmful. The data, of course, was completely incorrect.

Eventually, Johns Manville lost thousands of cases against people who developed diseases after exposure to the company’s products. Johns Manville ended up filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The business later created an asbestos trust fund to handle all pending and future cases.[6]

Consolidated Steel Shipyard Today

The Consolidated Steel Shipyards shut down after the war. The Orange, Texas location converted to a fabrication facility as part of U.S. Steel and eventually reverted back to a shipyard as part of Signal International. Today it is West Orange Shipyard.[3]

Today, the Port of Los Angeles container terminal (TraPac) is situated where the Wilmington shipyard once was.

Consolidated Steel Corporation is a memory to some and a complete nightmare to others. The damage that the asbestos at the business caused left many people fighting for their lives. Some of the former workers have since passed away from asbestos diseases.

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. Shipbuilding History. (2012, January 23). Consolidated Steel, Long Beach and Wilmington CA
    Retrieved from: https://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/consolidatedwilmington.htm
  2. Shipbuilding History. (n.d.). U.S. Emergency Shipbuilders.
    Retrieved from: https://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge.htm
  3. Shipbuilding History. (2012, January 23). Consolidated Steel, Orange TX.
    Retrieved from: https://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/consolidatedorange.htm
  4. Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. (2014, January 29). Asbestos Toxicity. Who is at Risk for Exposure to Asbestos?
    Retrieved from: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/asbestos/who_is_at_risk.html
  5. 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
  6. Dixon, L., McGovern, G., and Coombe, A. (2010). Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts. Rand Institute for Civil Justice.
    Retrieved from: https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/technical_reports/2010/RAND_TR872.pdf
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
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 Epithelial 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