Marietta Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lockheed-Georgia (now Lockheed Martin) | Aerospace & Aircraft Manufacturing | 1951–present | Critical |
| 2 | Dobbins Air Reserve Base | Military Aviation | 1943–present | High |
| 3 | Marietta Industrial Construction (multiple sites) | Industrial Construction | 1950–1980 | Moderate |
Lockheed-Georgia / Lockheed Martin Marietta: Aerospace Asbestos Exposure
Lockheed began manufacturing at Marietta in 1951, initially producing B-47 Stratojet bombers before transitioning to the legendary C-130 Hercules tactical cargo aircraft — a platform that remains in production today. The plant grew to employ over 30,000 workers at its peak, making it the largest single employer in Cobb County and one of the largest manufacturing facilities in the southeastern United States. Aircraft manufacturing involved asbestos throughout the production process: in brake assemblies, engine gaskets, heat shields, and the fireproofing materials applied to aircraft structures.
Workers in the maintenance hangars who performed depot-level maintenance on older aircraft accumulated particularly high asbestos exposure. During overhaul operations on aging C-130s, C-141 Starlifters, and C-5 Galaxies, maintenance personnel disturbed aged asbestos components during repair, replacement, and inspection work. This type of secondary disturbance of aged asbestos — often releasing higher concentrations of airborne fibers than original installation — is consistently associated with elevated mesothelioma risk.
Adjacent Dobbins Air Reserve Base shares the runway with the Lockheed plant and employed many of the same contracted maintenance workers who moved between the base and the manufacturing facility. Both Lockheed employees and contractors who worked on-site at Marietta have successfully filed mesothelioma claims against manufacturers of asbestos-containing aircraft components.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lockheed-Georgia’s Marietta facility is one of the most extensively documented aerospace asbestos exposure sites in the Southeast. Aircraft brake linings, engine gaskets, heat shields, and thermal insulation in military aircraft contained asbestos through the early 1980s. Workers in manufacturing, quality control, and especially depot maintenance — those who worked on older aircraft during overhaul — had the highest exposure rates. Both Lockheed employees and contractors who worked on-site have filed mesothelioma claims.
Yes. Georgia provides 2 years from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis to file a personal injury claim under O.C.G.A. §9-3-33. Trust fund claims against manufacturers of asbestos-containing aircraft components (brake manufacturers, gasket manufacturers) can often be filed on separate timelines. Workers who were also military personnel at Dobbins Air Reserve Base may additionally qualify for VA disability benefits.