Asbestos & Mesothelioma Statistics in New Mexico
New Mexico, while known for its beautiful landscapes, has a history of asbestos exposure that has impacted the health of its residents. From 1999 to 2015, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that 226 New Mexicans died from mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. This translates to an annual mesothelioma mortality rate of approximately 7 per million people in the state.
The presence of naturally occurring asbestos deposits in New Mexico contributes to this risk. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has identified 11 asbestos occurrences in the state, including notable deposits of chrysotile and amphibole asbestos, particularly in the southwestern regions near Lordsburg and Deming. These natural deposits, combined with historical industrial practices, have created various pathways for asbestos exposure.
Workplace Asbestos Exposure Across New Mexico Industries
Beyond natural asbestos, numerous workplaces in New Mexico historically utilized asbestos, putting workers across diverse industries at risk.
Oil and Gas Refineries
New Mexico’s significant oil and gas industry, a major economic driver since the 1920s employing around 11,000 individuals, heavily relied on asbestos. Oil refining, an intense industrial process, demanded materials capable of withstanding extreme heat and chemical exposure. Asbestos, prized for its heat resistance and durability, was extensively used in refinery facilities and equipment. Companies like Giant Refining and Navajo Refining are known to have used asbestos, placing their employees at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.
Power Generation Plants
Power plants, along with numerous industrial buildings constructed before the 1980s, are likely to contain asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos insulation was common, and equipment such as turbines and thermal control devices often incorporated the mineral. In New Mexico, companies like United Nuclear Corporation, headquartered in Gallup, and Albuquerque Gas & Electric Company in Albuquerque, utilized asbestos within their power facilities.
Mining Operations
While New Mexico did not have active asbestos mines, miners in various other mining operations across the state have encountered trace amounts of asbestos. The New Mexico Environment Department has documented asbestos findings in limestone, talc, and copper deposits. Even minimal asbestos disturbance can lead to exposure for miners. Companies such as Phelps Dodge Mining, Chino Mines Company, and Kerr McGee Potash Mine in Carlsbad have reported encountering asbestos in their mining operations.
Railroad Industry
Railroad workers also faced significant asbestos exposure due to its widespread use in steam trains. From gaskets to engine rooms, asbestos products were essential because of their exceptional heat resistance. Rail companies operating in New Mexico, including A.T. and Santa Fe Railway System and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, utilized asbestos, exposing their workers to the harmful mineral.
Military Installations
Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, a major New Mexico employer, is another site with historical asbestos use. From the 1940s to the 1970s, asbestos was extensively used by the military in bases, aircraft, and naval vessels. In 1986, recognizing the dangers, the U.S. Air Force acknowledged asbestos hazards and initiated asbestos abatement programs across its bases.
Superfund Sites and Asbestos Contamination
New Mexico has seen several sites added to the EPA’s Superfund List due to environmental hazards, including asbestos contamination at one location.
Prewitt Abandoned Refinery Superfund Site
The Prewitt Refinery, defunct since 1957, presented environmental risks due to its legacy operations. Although structures were demolished, scattered debris and foundations remained across the 70-acre site. Contamination, including asbestos and lead in groundwater and soil, posed risks to nearby residents. The EPA initiated cleanup efforts, recommending ongoing monitoring and remediation to address these concerns.
Cities in New Mexico with Documented Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure in occupational settings has been documented in numerous New Mexico cities. Prolonged exposure can lead to serious illnesses, including mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Smaller Work Sites and Asbestos Risks Across New Mexico
Beyond major cities, asbestos exposure has occurred at numerous smaller job sites throughout New Mexico. Exposure at any of these sites can elevate a worker’s risk of developing mesothelioma, specifically pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs.
Directory of New Mexico Work Sites with Asbestos Exposure
The following is a directory of work sites in New Mexico where asbestos exposure has been documented. This list is not exhaustive but provides an overview of the widespread potential for asbestos exposure across the state:
- A.T. and Sante Fe Railway System
- Ace Building & Supply Company
- Ace Welding Service
- Alamogordo Lambert Company
- Alamogordo Lumber Company
- Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center
- Albuquerque and Cerrillos Coal Company (A&CCC)
- Albuquerque Elks Lodge 461
- Albuquerque Federal Building
- Albuquerque Gas and Electric Company
- Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Water Authority
- American Gypsum Company
- American Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company
- Apache Elementary School
- Aqua Fria School
- Arizona Public Service Company
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company
- Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company (AT&SF)
- Atomic Energy Commission
- Bates Lumber Company
- Brewer Builders Specialties, Inc.
- Builders Materials, Inc.
- Bureau of Reclamation
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad
- Burn Construction Company, Inc.
- Chaco Compressor Station
- Chino Mines Company
- Chino Mines Power Plant
- Ciniza Refinery
- City of Las Cruces Gas Distribution System
- City Power Plant
- Climax Chemical Company
- Columbia Asbestos Company
- Community Power and Light Company
- Delta Person – Generating Station
- Deseret Industries
- Duval Sulfur & Potash
- El Paso Electric Company
- El Paso Natural Gas Company
- Eppsco, Inc.
- Excelsior Laundry Company
- Farmers Compress Company
- Farmington Insulation & Metal Supply Inc.
- First Church of Christ, Scientist
- Florida Insulation & Fireproof
- Four Corners Power Plant
- Four Corners Powerhouse
- Four Corners Steam Electric Generating Plant
- Gallup Refinery
- George S. Thomson Company, Inc.
- Giant Refining New Mexico
- H B Zachry Company
- Haines Sewing Plant
- Holloman Air Force Base
- Hudson Engineering Corporation
- International Min. & Chemical Corporation
- International Minerals and Chemical Corp
- International Minerals and Chemicals Corporation
- J. Korber & Company, Inc.
- Kennecott Copper Company
- Kennicott Copper Mines
- Kent Nowlin Construction Company
- Kerr Mcgee Potasa Mine
- Kinney Brick Company
- Kirtland Air Force Base
- Lea County Electric Cooperative Inc
- Los Alamos Atomic Testing Site
- Los Alamos Laboratories
- Los Alamos Power Plant
- Lovelace Medical Center
- Lovington Power Plant
- M.R. Prestridge Lumber Company
- Maddok Power Plant
- Malco Refineries, Inc.
- Merrill H. Fisher
- Missile Site
- Monterrey School
- Municipal Light Plant Farmington
- Nalleys, Inc.
- National Mine
- National Potash Company
- Navajo Refining
- Neff Buckner
- Nevada Consolidated Copper Corporation
- New Mexico Electric Service Company
- New Mexico Light Heat and Power Company
- New Mexico Pump & Equipment
- New Mexico State Penitentiary
- New Mexico State Teachers College
- New Mexico State University
- Northern Natural Gas Company
- Old St. Joseph Hospital
- Owens-Corning
- Owens-Corning Fiberglas
- Pecos Valley Compress Company
- Phelps Dodge Mining
- Plateau Refinery
- Production Equipment Corp
- Public Service Company of New Mexico
- Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM)
- Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs
- Red Seal Potato Chip Co.
- Reeves Generating Station
- Roswell Brackish Water Treatment Facility
- Roswell Electric Light Company
- Roswell Industrial Air Center
- Roswell Laundry Company
- San Juan Power Plant
- Sandia Base
- Sandia National Laboratories
- Santa Fe General Hospital
- Shell Oil Company
- Silver City Reduction Company
- Socorro Mines
- Southern Public Service Company
- Southernwestern Public Service Company
- Southwest Lumber Company
- Southwest Potash Corp
- Southwestern Public Service Company
- St. Marys Hospital
- Stears-Roger Manufacturing Company
- Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
- Texas Louisiana Power Company
- The Imperial Laundry Company
- Town of Clovis
- Town of Silver City
- Tri-State Insulation, Inc.
- Turbine Generator
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Albuquerque District
- United Nuclear Corporation
- United States Potash Company
- United States Potash Company
- University of New Mexico
- VA New Mexico Healthcare System
- Walker Air Force Base
- Warren Petroleum Corporation
- Warren Petroleum Corporation
- Western Precipitation
- White Sands Missile Range
- Wingate Fractionation Plan
- Wonder Building Display
- Zia Corporation
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in New Mexico, understanding your legal options is crucial. Seeking guidance from a New Mexico mesothelioma lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of asbestos litigation and pursue compensation for your illness. For more information, you can explore resources online, and while platforms like Vimeo may host informative videos, consulting directly with legal professionals is the most effective step in understanding your rights and options.
