Asbestos at American Tobacco
For over 38
years, American Tobacco in Hopewell utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with American Tobacco show the use of products such as
pipe insulation and pipe coverings,
millboard, panelboard and misc. building materials,
asbestos blankets, cloth, ropes and textiles,
protective clothing and accessories,
gaskets, packing and seals,
flooring materials (tiles, sheet, adhesives),
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics,
roofing and siding shingles, coatings and sealants,
floor underlayments, backings and felts,
sprayed or trowled acoustic/decorative plasters and textures,
asbestos cement sheets, siding and boards,
automotive and heavy equipment friction products.
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
C.E. Thurston & Sons, Eagle-Picher asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at American Tobacco in Hopewell, Virginia:
C.E. Thurston & Sons
- Acoustical Plaster
- Asbestos Cement
- Asbestos Felt
- Asbestos Millboard
- Asbestos Packing
- Asbestos Paper
- Asbestos Rollboard
- Asbestos Rope
- Asbestos Sewing Thread
- Asbestos Sheet Packing
- Asbestos Spray Insulation
- Asbestos Wicking
- Asphalt Floor Tile
- Blown-In Insulation
- Brake Lining
- Calcium Silicate Blocks and Pipe
- Calcium Silicate Pipe Insulation
- Caulking/Putties
- Ceiling Tiles and Panels
- Cement Pipes
- Cement Siding
- Cement Wallboard
- Clutch Lining
- Decorative Plaster
- Electric Wiring Insulation
- Fire Blankets
- Fire Curtains
- Flooring Backing
- Gaskets
- Insulating Cement
- Joint Compound
- Laboratory Gloves
- Marine Bulkhead
- Marine Bulkhead Veneer
- Mastic and Adhesive
- Molded Insulation / blocks
- Pipe Insulation
- Refractory
- Shingles and Roofing
- Spackling Compound
- Textured Paints
- Valve Packing
- Vinyl Asbestos Flooring
- Vinyl Floor Tile
- Vinyl Sheet Flooring
- Vinyl Wall Covering
Eagle-Picher
- 106 Finishing Cement
- 111 High Temperature Cement
- 33 Insulating Cement
- 43 Cement
- 7M Asbestos Finishing Cement
- 85% Magnesia Pipe Covering and Insulating
- 99 Finishing Cement
- Armatemp Cement No. 10
- Armatemp Cement No. 166
- Castable Cement
- Coprtex Cement
- D.E. Block
- Drycote
- Eagle 20 Finishing Cement
- Eagle Drycote
- Firekote Cement
- Fireproofing Cement
- Hi-Stick Insulating Cement
- Hi-Temp Corrosion Resistant Paint
- HyLo Finishing Cement
- HyLoc Block and Pipe Covering
- Insulac
- Insulating Cement
- Insulseal
- Insulstic Adhesive Material
- Kings XX Finishing Cement
- Navy Grade Insulating Cement
- Navy Special Insulating Cement
- One-Cote Cement
- Spray Mastic
- Stalastic
- Super “66” Cement
- Superfill “A”
- Superfill “F”
- Supertemp Block
- Swetchek
- Vercel Block
- “1003” Cement
- “330” Insulating Cement
- “DE 85” Block
- “DE 95” Block
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the American Tobacco in Hopewell, VA. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at American Tobacco
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at American Tobacco, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Acoustical Installer
- Acoustical Worker
- Asbestos Worker
- Auto Mechanic
- Boilermaker
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Tender
- Boiler Worker
- Brake Line & Shoe Installer
- Brake Line & Shoe Repairman
- Brakeman (railroad)
- Brake Mechanic
- Brake Worker
- Bricklayer
- Burner
- Carpenter
- Cement Mason
- Checker
- Clutch Installer
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Crew
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Diesel Mechanic
- Drywall Applicator
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Engine Room Mechanic
- Fireman
- Firewatcher
- Flame Cutter
- Flooring Installer
- Floor Tile & Linoleum Layer
- Forklift Operator
- Foundry Worker
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Repairman
- Heat & Frost
- Heavy Duty Mechanic
- Heavy Equipment Mechanic
- Insulation Worker
- Insulator
- Lagger
- Lather
- Machinist
- Machinist Helper
- Maintenance Man
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Mason
- Painter
- Pipe Coverer
- Pipefitter
- Pipe Insulator
- Plasterer
- Plumber
- Protective Clothing & Accessories Manufacturer
- Puncher of Millboard
- Puncher of Roofing Materials
- Remodeler
- Repairman
- Roofer
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Siding Installer
- Smelter
- Steamfitter
- Steel Worker
- Tile Helper
- Tile Installer
- Tile Layer
- Tile Mechanic
- Truck Driver
- Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Worker
- Warehouseman
- Weaver of Asbestos Textiles
- Welder
Important Note:
This list is derived from trust fund data associated with asbestos exposure claims, focusing on products
manufactured or supplied by companies related to relevant trust funds. It identifies occupations known to
have used these types of products at American Tobacco in Hopewell, Virginia. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
American Tobacco in Hopewell, Virginia employees were directly exposed to asbestos
throughout their
employment, particularly between 1945 and 1982, when asbestos was heavily used.
Asbestos fibers,
microscopic and easily inhaled, are incredibly durable. Once inhaled, they can lodge in the lungs and
other organs. The body struggles to remove these fibers, leading to chronic inflammation and scarring.
For those who worked at American Tobacco, this process significantly increased the risk of severe and
often fatal asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and various
pleural conditions.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure extended beyond the American Tobacco in Hopewell. Workers often unknowingly
carried
asbestos dust home on their clothing, skin, hair, and tools. This resulted in secondary, or “take-home,”
exposure for family members residing in Hopewell and surrounding communities. Even low levels of asbestos
exposure can be harmful, and these diseases often have a long latency period, sometimes appearing
decades after the initial exposure, leaving families devastated years after a loved one worked
at American Tobacco.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at American Tobacco
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to American Tobacco in Hopewell, VA. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by American Tobacco at
its Hopewell facility between 1945 and 1982.
- Diagnosis: Medical documentation confirming a diagnosis of a qualifying asbestos-related
disease, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.
- Causation: Evidence demonstrating a connection between the diagnosed disease and the asbestos
exposure at American Tobacco in Hopewell.
Important Note: Each asbestos trust fund has specific criteria, claim forms, and procedures.
Average Settlement Ranges by Type of Asbestos-Related Disease
Average settlements for asbestos-related diseases linked to exposure at the American Tobacco site in Hopewell, VA, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $19,132 and
$1,594,801. The specific amount awarded depends on
factors such as the severity of the disease, the claimant’s medical history, and details of their employment
at American Tobacco, including job duties and duration of exposure.