Tennessee residents who have worked and lived in and around the Kingston Fossil Plant, commonly known as the Kingston Steam Plant, are at an increased risk of exposure to asbestos, which could lead to serious health problems including the deadly cancer mesothelioma.
The Kingston Steam Plant, located on the Watts Bar Reservoir of the Tennessee River, is a large coal-burning power plant. In fact, it was the largest power plant of its kind when its construction was completed 1955.
To create energy, Kingston’s nine coal-fired generating units heat water in a boiler to produce steam. Put under extreme pressure, this steam flows into a turbine that spins to produce enough electricity to power 670,000 homes each year. This plant consumers 14,000 tones of coal every day when at its full operational capacity.
The Kingston Steam Plant, like many coal power plants in operation in the last 100 years, used asbestos extensively in their building facilities and equipment due to this material’s insulating abilities. The heat generated by power plants like the Kingston Steam Plant is so great that superior protective insulation is required to prevent fires and other problems.
However, while asbestos proves an excellent insulating material, it is extremely toxic. When this material is compromised in any way, invisible asbestos particles can be inhaled or ingested. This asbestos exposure can lead to serious health problems including asbestosis and a rare but deadly cancer called mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the abdominal cavity, the lungs, or the heart. Sadly, this aggressive cancer often proves fatal in months. Interestingly, there can be a long span between the time of asbestos exposure and the development of a related disease. In fact, it can take up to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop after exposure to asbestos.
The Kingston Steam Plant is not required by the EPA to report on emissions of asbestos into the air, though in 2008 it reported toxic release of 9 million pounds of dangerous compounds including arsenic and lead.
It is known that the Kingston Steam Plant used asbestos extensively in their operations and may have put their employees at risk for serious asbestos related disease.
If you or a loved one worked at the Kingston Steam Plant and developed an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, you may be entitled to compensation for your disease, your medical expenses, and your pain and suffering. Please contact us today to speak with our qualified attorneys who can evaluate your case to determine your legal rights and options.
