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Mesothelioma Lawyers
Missouri Mesothelioma Lawyers
The mesothelioma lawyers at the Simmons firm represent victims of mesothelioma cancer throughout the United States, including the state of Missouri. We provide legal representation and counsel to families pursuing or considering the pursuit of mesothelioma litigation. Missourians concerned about their exposure to asbestos can find valuable mesothelioma information and resources on this site.
- CDC statistics show Missouri's age-adjusted death rate for malignant mesothelioma to be between 5.7and 11.5 deaths per million per year.1
- The majority of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos find it at their workplaces, often due to a lack of safety precautions by the employer.
- Asbestos exposure can also be found in some areas as a result from breathing contaminated air near an asbestos site. Close proximity to workers who have taken the fibers home with them on their clothing may also lead to exposure and contamination.
Asbestos Exposure in Missouri
Geological Survey
According to a 2008 United States Geological Survey report (PDF), Missouri contains one reported natural occurrence of asbestos and another reported former asbestos prospect. It also contains two reported sites of fibrous amphiboles, which have the potential to host asbestos. All four locations are in Southeast Missouri:2
| Type of site | Historic site name as reported | Physical environment |
| former amphibole prospect | Thorny Mountain mine | former manganese mine |
| amphibole natural occurrence | Ketcherside Gap deposit | small former copper mine |
| former asbestos prospect | unnamed | "basic dike" |
| natural occurrence | Iron Mountain mine | iron skarn |
EPA Superfund Cleanup
The U.S. EPA has cited one Missouri location for asbestos contamination in its Superfund program for hazardous waste cleanup: the Weldon Spring Quarry in St. Charles County. The site—full official listing: Weldon Spring Quarry/Plant/PITS (USDOE/Army)—having received federal remedial action since 1988, is currently under control in regards to human exposures. According to EPA documentation, the 230-acre property is associated with the Weldon Spring Former Army Ordnance Works, a site on its "National Priorities List." After land transfers in the 1950s, the U.S. Department of Energy (at the time known as the Atomic Energy Commission) assumed ownership of 220 acres of the original Ordnance Works area. It began to clean up the site in 1987 and is the party currently responsible for the contamination.3 Asbestos debris, removed along with overhead piping, was one of more than 100 varieties of contaminated media found on the property, including TNT and uranium.4
Occupational Exposure
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one of Missouri's largest employment categories is "education and health services," in which there were 403,000 jobs in Sept. 2009, a number increasing steadily every year since 1999. Statistics from 2007 show 20,890 Missourians employed as teachers and instructors, excluding secondary school teachers with the exception of special/vocational secondary school teachers).5 CDC statistics have documented increased mortality from malignant mesothelioma among elementary school teachers, who represent a significant portion of those 20,890 teachers and instructors.6 The following chart shows occupational proportionate mortality ratios, or the likelihood a worker in the following occupations has of developing mesothelioma compared to the average occupation.
| Occupation | Proportionate Mortality Ratio (PMR) |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters | 4.8 |
| Mechanical engineers | 3.0 |
| Electricians | 2.4 |
| Teachers, elementary school | 2.1 |
Mesothelioma Lawyers with Experience
At the Simmons firm, our mesothelioma lawyers have been working with clients suffering from diseases associated with asbestos exposure for more than ten years. Our experience, resources and dedication to personal client service have helped us recover over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements for thousands of families dealing with mesothelioma in its various forms.*
The Simmons firm is one of the nation's leading supporters of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and has pledged $10 million to support cancer research at the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University.If you believe you may have contracted mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, please contact our mesothelioma lawyers for a free case evaluation.
Learn More About Mesothelioma:
» Mesothelioma Diagnosis Information
» Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results