Los Angeles Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma

Los Angeles’ aerospace industry, massive postwar construction boom, and military-industrial complex exposed hundreds of thousands of workers to asbestos throughout the mid-20th century. The San Fernando Valley aerospace corridor and the Long Beach–San Pedro maritime zone are the two highest-concentration exposure areas.

12+Major exposure sites

~45,000Estimated exposed workers

2 YearsCalifornia statute of limitations

$0Upfront legal costs

Los Angeles Exposure Map

Documented Exposure Sites

#	Facility	Area	Industry	Risk
1	Long Beach Naval Shipyard	Long Beach	Naval Shipbuilding	Critical
2	Rockwell International (North American Aviation)	Downey / El Segundo	Aerospace / Defense	Critical
3	Hughes Aircraft	Culver City / El Segundo	Aerospace / Defense	High
4	Lockheed Aircraft (Burbank)	Burbank	Aerospace / Defense	High
5	Douglas Aircraft (McDonnell Douglas)	Long Beach / Santa Monica	Aerospace	High
6	Todd Shipyards LA	San Pedro	Ship Repair	Critical
7	Union Oil Wilmington Refinery	Wilmington	Petroleum Refining	High
8	Southern California Edison	Rosemead (multiple plants)	Power Generation	Moderate
9	General Motors Van Nuys	Van Nuys	Auto Manufacturing	Moderate
10	Bethlehem Steel Terminal Island	San Pedro	Steel / Ship Repair	Critical

San Fernando Valley Aerospace Corridor

The Cold War aerospace boom turned the San Fernando Valley into one of the most asbestos-intensive industrial zones in California. Lockheed in Burbank, Rockwell in Downey, and Hughes in Culver City all built military and commercial aircraft using asbestos in brake systems, heat shields, engine insulation, and building construction throughout their facilities.

Thousands of mechanics, production workers, and maintenance crews at these facilities have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. California courts in Los Angeles County have an established asbestos litigation docket with experience in aerospace exposure cases.

Did aerospace workers in LA get exposed to asbestos?▼

Yes. Asbestos was widely used in aerospace manufacturing for heat shields, brake linings, gaskets, and insulation in engine test facilities. Workers at Rockwell, Lockheed, Hughes Aircraft, and Douglas Aircraft — particularly mechanics and maintenance workers — had significant asbestos exposure from the 1940s through the 1970s. California’s 2-year statute of limitations runs from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis.