Exposure to asbestos can cause disabling and fatal diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and gastrointestinal cancer. The symptoms of these diseases generally do not appear for 20 years or more after exposure. Asbestos fibers enter the body by inhaling or ingesting airborne particles that become embedded in the tissues of the respiratory or digestive systems. Most worker exposures occur during the removal of asbestos and the renovation and maintenance of buildings and structures that contain asbestos.

If you have worked and lived in Oregon for a significant amount of time, there is a chance that you were exposed to asbestos at home or in the workplace. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can lead to serious health problems including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

As a service to people who live in Oregon, we have compiled the following information about asbestos and mesothelioma in the state. Below you will find recent statistics about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma in Oregon. We have also included descriptions of the industries and lists of cities, towns and specific job sites in Oregon where asbestos exposure has occurred. Local Oregon mesothelioma doctors and treatment centers are listed. Recent news articles about asbestos and mesothelioma in Oregon are also provided.

Oregon Mesothelioma and Asbestos Statistics

  • From 1999 – 2015, 716 Oregon residents died from mesothelioma
  • Oregon has a high mesothelioma mortality rate of about 11 people per million annually (Source: CDC)
  • Oregon has 22 known sites that contain asbestos, including 12 natural deposits and 3 former asbestos mines (Source: USGS)
  • Multnomah and Clackamas counties in Oregon had the most asbestos-related deaths in the state from 1999 – 2013 (Source: CDC)
  • Ranking in U.S. for mesothelioma & asbestosis deaths: 19th
  • Mesothelioma Deaths: 619
  • Asbestosis Deaths: 169
  • Total Deaths: 788

Asbestos Exposure in Oregon Workplaces

In Oregon, it is estimated that between 150 and 200 facilities were a source of exposure for workers. Not surprisingly, shipyards, lumber mills and paper mills account for a significant number of worksites that used contaminated products. Oregon is also among a number of states that have naturally occurring asbestos, and several mines previously operated within the region. Beyond the natural asbestos and former mines that increase residents’ risk of exposure, workers in many industries in Oregon faced asbestos on the job such as:

  • Shipbuilding
  • Chemical Plants
  • Paper Mills
  • Manufacturing

Asbestos Inspectors in Central Oregon

Bend Asbestos offers accredited asbestos inspectors for residential and commercial customers throughout Central Oregon including Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Sisters, La Pine and the surrounding area.  We provide asbestos testing,  asbestos surveys and AHERA surveys as a service to keep your family safe.