Tampa Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tampa Shipbuilding Company (TASCO) | WWII Naval Shipbuilding | 1940–1946 | Critical |
| 2 | MacDill Air Force Base | Military Aviation | 1941–present | Critical |
| 3 | Port Tampa Bay (Port of Tampa) | Maritime / Shipping | 1924–present | Critical |
| 4 | Mosaic / IMC Phosphate (Polk County) | Phosphate Mining & Processing | 1950–present | High |
| 5 | Tampa Electric Gannon Power Station | Coal-Fired Power Generation | 1957–2016 | High |
| 6 | Gardinier Phosphate Plant (Tampa) | Fertilizer & Chemical Manufacturing | 1955–1985 | High |
Tampa Shipbuilding Company: WWII Naval Construction
Tampa Shipbuilding Company (TASCO) operated at peak capacity during World War II, building destroyer escorts, landing ships, and other naval vessels for the U.S. Navy. Like all wartime shipyards, asbestos insulation was applied to every pipe, boiler, and engine room aboard ships under construction at Tampa. Workers — particularly pipefitters, insulators, laggers, and boilermakers — accumulated significant exposure in the enclosed spaces of ships under construction, where asbestos fibers had no means of escape.
TASCO employed over 10,000 workers at its wartime peak, drawing from the Tampa Bay labor pool and producing vessels under aggressive wartime production timelines that prioritized output over worker safety. The use of asbestos insulation in shipbuilding was considered standard industry practice through the war years, and the long latency period of mesothelioma — typically 20 to 50 years between exposure and diagnosis — means that former TASCO workers continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma today.
Former TASCO workers and their surviving families may have claims against asbestos product manufacturers through trust fund claims. Many of the companies that supplied asbestos insulation materials to wartime shipyards have established bankruptcy trusts that continue to pay claims to eligible workers and their survivors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Tampa Shipbuilding Company (TASCO) operated at peak capacity during World War II, building destroyer escorts, landing ships, and other naval vessels for the U.S. Navy. Like all wartime shipyards, asbestos insulation was applied to every pipe, boiler, and engine room aboard ships under construction. Workers — particularly pipefitters, insulators, laggers, and boilermakers — accumulated significant exposure. Former TASCO workers and their surviving families may have claims against asbestos product manufacturers through trust fund claims.
Yes. MacDill Air Force Base has continuously operated since 1941. Maintenance workers, civilian contractors, and military personnel who serviced older aircraft and maintained base infrastructure were exposed to asbestos in brake linings, engine components, building insulation, and base construction materials. Veterans who served at MacDill may qualify for VA disability benefits in addition to mesothelioma trust fund claims against manufacturers of asbestos-containing aircraft components.