Asbestos exposure in Delaware often comes from construction and renovation. Too, residents face hazardous exposure at work in other states.
Historically, residents of Delaware have been exposed to asbestos due to construction activity or home renovation while in their state. In The First State, there is only a single natural source of asbestos found in mineral deposits in the northern tip of the state. Conversely, a lot of hazardous exposure to asbestos experienced by Delawareans stems from commuting to occupational sources in other states (such as Pennsylvania). As such, the state’s asbestos-related rate of death (7.5 per 100,000 population between 1999 and 2017) is nearly identical to its neighbor to the north (7.4). Compared to the national average (4.9), these states maintain markedly higher rates of exposure-related illness and loss.
In addition to high state rates of asbestos-related death, many of Delaware’s counties had higher rates, too. For the same period of time, Sussex County’s rate of asbestos-related death was 9.6 per 100,000 people, New Castle County’s was 7.3, and Kent County’s was 5.8. These numbers include at least 211 diagnoses of asbestosis, 211 diagnoses of mesothelioma, and 844 cases of non-mesothelioma lung cancer. Moreover, across the country, Delaware ranked fifth in the age-adjusted death rate for malignant mesothelioma.
While there is a lone natural source of asbestos in Delaware, the state does contain a few other related environmental hazards. Construction on buildings and roads, salvage yards, and renovation garbage have all created dangerous areas for the public. Similarly, controversy stirred among residents after asbestos-like fibers were seen in the air at an abandoned GM auto plant on Boxwood Road in Wilmington owned by real estate developer Harvey Hanna. In 2019, a fine of $20,000 was delivered to the site’s demolition company as well as its foreman by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The pair of fees were handed down for violating “emissions standards for hazardous air pollutants.”
Additionally, residents may have experienced environmental exposure to asbestos from trash dumped along roadways and interstates in Kent County. Authorities admit the construction refuse and thrown-out appliances are a public health concern. Following testing, all of the samples taken from roadside piles but ten contained asbestos.
Unique to Delaware, many people in the state experience the bulk of their exposure to asbestos while working in other states. According to data from the U.S. Census, more than 35,000 people leave the state each day to work in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, these states have some of the highest occurrences of natural asbestos in the country as well as buildings built before the 1980s containing the mineral in excess as a building material.
In recent years, teachers in Pennsylvania have come forward about their asbestos worries. As schools in some cities remain closed indefinitely while removal efforts continue, there are at least 2,000 other affected schools and 175 buildings in Philadelphia (a major commuting city for Delawareans). In 2019, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers disclosed that a teacher of 17 years had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Both schools the teacher worked in had tested positive for the presence of asbestos.
For residents concerned about asbestos removal, multiple state-level offices work to protect the public against dangerous exposure. The Asbestos Management, Demolition & Renovation office in the state’s capital oversees the removal, transportation, and disposal of all asbestos in Delaware. The state warns that the mineral may be found in any of the following construction and renovation materials:
For rules and regulations, informational documents, licensing requirements, and applications visit Delaware’s Office of Budget and Management’s page on Asbestos. Or, see a list of their Certified Asbestos Vendors.
Call for a free case evaluation to learn more about your legal rights and all potential compensation options available to you.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos, it can take up to 30 or 40 years for symptoms to show up. Subsequently, many people don’t catch their illness until it’s too late. Doctors recommend screening early to catch any potential problems before they worsen – as diseases like mesothelioma are fatal. For individuals who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related lung disease or mesothelioma, getting proper testing is vital for an accurate prognosis and effective treatment.
Below are the National Cancer Institute’s designated cancer centers in the Delaware area (none yet exist within the state):
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health
The Wistar Institute Cancer Center
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Abramson Cancer Center
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
There could be other places not mentioned on this page that contain harmful asbestos in Delaware or the surrounding area frequented by its residents. If you think you have been exposed to asbestos, speak with a medical professional as soon as possible to discuss your personal history. Too, you can download our free mesothelioma guide for information on treatment and legal compensation.
Destiny Bezrutczyk is a content writer from Iowa and has earned a Bachelor’s in English Language and Literature from Texas Tech University. After working as a freelance script and blog writer, she began writing content for tech startups. Maintaining a passion for words, she took on a variety of projects where her writing could help people. She enjoys spicy food and video games about robots.
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