Asbestos at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
For over 26
years, Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington utilized asbestos extensively in various products.
Records from asbestos trust funds associated with Walter Reed Army Medical Center show the use of products such as
pipe insulation and pipe coverings,
millboard, panelboard and misc. building materials,
boiler and high-temp equipment insulation,
gaskets, packing and seals,
fireproofing materials and sprays,
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,
joint compounds, insulating cements, adhesives and mastics .
The following list contains asbestos products identified in claims against the
A. P. Green, Armstrong World Industries, Owens Corning, Pittsburgh Corning, USG, W.R. Grace asbestos
trust fund(s) linked to exposure at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, Washington, DC:
A. P. Green
- Asbestos Cement
- Asbestos Fire
- Castable Mix 204
- Greencast
- Greencast 22 L GR
- Greencast 94 GR
- Greencast 97 GR
- Greencast 97 L GR
- Insblok 19
- Insulation Adhesive
- Kast O-Lite Refractory Cement
- Lo Abrade GR
- MC-30
- Mizzou Firebrick
- No. 36 Refractory
- Refractory Ce
- SK-7 Asbestos Cement
- Steelkon GR
- Steelplant Castable B
- Therm-O-Flake Coating (18% asbestos)
- Therm-O-Flake L.B. Block
Armstrong World Industries
- 314 Acoustic Cement
- Accobest Gasketing Material
- Accopac Asbestos Paper
- Armaspray
- Armaspray 16 Spray-on Insulation
- Armatemp Cement No. 10
- Asphalt Tile
- CC Navy Sealer
- Emulsions
- Excelon Tile
- Excelon Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile
- Finishes
- FRJ
- Heavy Duty FRJ
- Heavy-Duty FRJ Insulation Jacket
- Hydrocord Flooring Felt
- LT Sealer
- LT – Cork Covering
- LT – Minus Thirty Cork Covering
- LT – Thirty Cork Covering
- LT – Zero Cork Covering
- Mastics
- Nonpareil High Pressure Cement
- Nonpareil High Pressure Covering Block
- Ring Facing Material
- Rubber Tile
- S-89 (Adhesive)
- S-89 Adhesive
- S-90 (Adhesive)
- S-90 Adhesive
- Sealers
- Sheet Gasketing Material
- Sprayed Limpet
- Vinyl Asbestos Tile
Owens Corning
- Ceiling Boards
- Finishing Cement
- Insulating Cement
- Kaylo 10 Block Insulation
- Kaylo 20 Block Insulation
- Kaylo Block Insulation
- Kaylo Heat Insulation
- Kaylo Insulation
- Kaylo Pipe Covering
- Kaylo Pipe Insulation
- One Cote Cement
- Ready Mix
- Type II Mastic
Pittsburgh Corning
- Braided Rod Packing
- Foamglas Building Insulation
- Gasoline Packing
- Insubestos Felt Insulation
- Insutape
- Semi-metallic Asbestos High Pressure Packing
- Unarco Insulating Cement #50
- Unarco Insulating Cement #75
- Unibestos Block Insulation
- Unibestos Insulation
- Unibestos Pipe Covering
USG
- Asbestos Felts & Covering
- Asbestos Paper
- Audicote Acoustical Plaster
- Bondcrete
- Ceiling Tile
- Cement Plaster Regular
- Corrugated Cool Felt Air C. Covering
- Corrugated Wool Felt Covering
- Durabond 90 Joint Compound
- Durabond Joint Compound
- Firecode Plaster
- Glatex Asbestos Cement Siding
- Gypsum Woodfibre Plaster
- Hi-Lite Acoustical Plaster
- Imperial Gypsum Cement Plaster
- Imperial Plaster
- Imperial Tape
- Oriental Exterior Stucco Finish Coat
- Perf-A-Tape Compound
- Perf-A-Tape Joint System
- Pipe Coverings
- Pyrobar Mortar Mix
- Pyrobestos PC Board & Stack Lining
- Range Boiler Jackets Pipe Covering
- Red Top Cement Plaster
- Red Top Firecode Plaster
- Red Top Gypsum Plaster
- Red Top Patching Plaster
- Red Top Plaster
- Rigid Block Insulation (Generic)
- Roofing Products
- Sabinite Acoustical Plaster
- Siding Shingles
- Spray Texture Paint/Finish
- Spraydon Fireproofing Plaster
- Structo-lite Perlited Gypsum Plaster
- Structolite
- Super Hard Spray
- Texolite
- Textone
- Texture Paint
- Thermalux (Generic)
- “Sheetrock” Texture
W.R. Grace
- Ari-Zonolite Texture
- Econo-White
- Gun Coat Spray Surfacer
- Hi-Sorb Plaster
- High Temp Insulating Cement
- Perlcoustic
- Perltex Super 40 Perlite
- Perltex Super-40 Fog
- Perltex Super-40 Polycoarse
- Perltex Super-40 SAV
- Prep Coat
- Spra-Wyt
- Vermiculite
- Versakote
- Z-Tex
- Zono-Coustic
- Zonolite
- Zonolite Acoustical Plaster
- Zonolite Cement
- Zonolite Mono-Kote
- Zonolite Mono-Kote Fireproofing (MK)
- Zonolite Spra-Insulation
- Zonolite Spra-Tex
- Zonolite Super 40
Important Note: This list may not be complete and may not include all asbestos-containing
products used at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. The specific products
used likely varied over time.
High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Jobs at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Due to the extensive use of asbestos at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, employees working in the following
positions were exposed to a significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases:
- Acoustical Installer
- Acoustical Worker
- Auto Mechanic
- Boiler Inspector
- Boilermaker
- Boiler Mechanic Helper
- Boiler Operator
- Boiler Repair
- Boiler Tender
- Boiler Worker
- Carpenter
- Commercial Building Trades
- Construction Laborer
- Demolition Worker
- Diesel Mechanic
- Drywall Installer
- Drywall Taper
- Electrician
- Fireproofing Sprayer
- Flooring Installer
- Floor Tile & Linoleum Layer
- Furnace Installer
- Furnace Insulator
- Furnace Operator
- Furnace Repairman
- Industrial Engineer
- Insulation Worker
- Insulator
- Lagger
- Lather
- Machinist
- Machinist Helper
- Maintenance Man
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Operating Engineer
- Painter
- Pipe Coverer
- Pipefitter
- Pipe Insulator
- Plasterer
- Plumber
- Powerhouse Mechanic
- Powerhouse Operator
- Puncher of Millboard
- Puncher of Roofing Materials
- Remodeler
- Repairman
- Roofer
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Siding Installer
- Spray Gun Worker
- Stationary Engineer
- Steamfitter
- Tile Helper
- Tile Installer
- Tile Layer
- Tile Mechanic
- Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tiles Worker
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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, Washington, DC. This list
may not be exhaustive regarding all high-risk jobs at this location.
Asbestos Exposure Consequences
Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, Washington, DC employees were directly exposed to asbestos
throughout their
employment, particularly between 1957 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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. 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 Washington 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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Filing Asbestos Claims After Exposure at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
The eligibility requirements for filing asbestos claims vary depending on the specific trust fund
related to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Generally, claimants must
provide:
- Proof of exposure:
Evidence of exposure to asbestos-containing products manufactured or used by Walter Reed Army Medical Center at
its Washington facility between 1957 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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington.
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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center site in Washington, DC, can vary significantly. For claims against companies responsible for the exposure (civil defendants),
settlements might range from approximately $37,967 and
$1,989,066. 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 Walter Reed Army Medical Center, including job duties and duration of exposure.