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Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Oklahoma

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Oklahoma

Asbestos exposure is a known cause of severe illnesses like lung cancer and mesothelioma, posing a persistent risk to those who have spent years living or working in Oklahoma. These diseases remain a pressing concern, highlighting the importance of understanding their prevalence and impact in the state.

Between 2017 and 2021, Oklahoma reported 157 mesothelioma cases, with an age-adjusted incidence rate of 0.7 per 100,000 people. This relatively low rate is likely due to the absence of asbestos mines and natural deposits in the state.

Lung cancer remains far more prevalent. From 2017 to 2020, Oklahoma recorded 15,373 new lung cancer cases, with an age-adjusted incidence rate of 63.3 per 100,000 people. In 2023 alone, approximately 3,390 residents were diagnosed with lung cancer, and 2,090 deaths were attributed to the disease.

These figures highlight the ongoing health risks associated with asbestos exposure and reinforce the importance of awareness, early detection, and prevention efforts across Oklahoma.

Was I exposed to asbestos in Oklahoma?

Select a city in oklahoma-asbestos-lawyers where you or a household member worked to see the jobsites in Oklahoma with known asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure has affected workers and families in every state, across countless industries, and often long after the original exposure occurred. Asbestos-related illness is not limited to any single region. Exposure has occurred in factories, power plants, oil refineries, shipyards, schools, hospitals, military bases, and residential buildings throughout the United States.

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Contributing Factors

Although Oklahoma has no natural asbestos deposits, exposure has occurred through industrial and occupational settings. Agriculture, oil, and natural gas industries have long been central to the state's economy and are among the most significant sources of asbestos exposure.

Workers in these industries frequently encountered asbestos in equipment, insulation, and industrial facilities where the mineral was used for its heat-resistant properties. Counties along Oklahoma's southern border show slightly higher mesothelioma mortality rates, suggesting localized exposure risks.

Power plants and military installations also historically relied on asbestos-containing materials. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency has identified more than a dozen Superfund sites in Oklahoma, many associated with oil and gas operations that required asbestos-related cleanup.

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Cities in Oklahoma with Asbestos

There are 176 cities in Oklahoma that are covered by Asbestos Trust Funds

High-Risk Occupations for Asbestos Exposure in Oklahoma

While Oklahoma is widely known for agriculture, it also ranks among the top states for oil and natural gas production. This industrial history has placed many workers at increased risk for asbestos-related diseases.

Industrial Workers

Oklahoma's manufacturing sector employs thousands, particularly in tire production and oil and gas equipment manufacturing. Many of these facilities historically exposed workers to asbestos. Tulsa's airline maintenance operations also used asbestos-containing products such as brakes, insulation, valves, and gaskets.

Oil Refinery Workers

Asbestos exposure was widespread in Oklahoma's oil industry. Companies such as Sun Oil and Phillips Petroleum exposed workers at multiple sites, including the former Oklahoma Refining Company in Cyril, now listed as an EPA Superfund site.

Power Plant Workers

Many Oklahoma power plants relied on asbestos insulation during electricity and heat generation. Facilities such as Garson Light & Power Company, Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company, and the Ponca City Municipal Electric System exposed workers to airborne asbestos fibers for decades.

Naval and Military Veterans

Asbestos was widely used in military aircraft, ships, vehicles, and base infrastructure. In Oklahoma, major installations such as Tinker Air Force Base, the Naval Ammunition Depot in McAlester, and Fort Sill exposed service members, civilian employees, and even family members to asbestos. Muskogee's Veterans Hospital also contained asbestos materials for many years.

Landmark Oklahoma Asbestos Verdict

Family of Brennen James Atkeson vs. Various Defendants

Brennen James Atkeson was exposed to raw asbestos as a child through products manufactured and distributed by Union Carbide Corporation and Montello Inc., as well as asbestos-containing drilling rig products made by National Oilwell.

He inhaled asbestos fibers brought home on the clothing of his stepfather, Ronnie Pratt, an oil field worker. Brennen was later diagnosed with mesothelioma and passed away in 2016 at the age of 38.

In May 2019, a Pontotoc County jury found the defendants liable for failing to warn workers about the dangers of their asbestos-containing products. The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals upheld an $8 million verdict awarded to Brennen's estate.

Asbestos Exposure by State

Recognition Received