Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Naval Shipyard | Naval Shipbuilding & Repair | 1801–1995 | Critical |
| 2 | Sun Oil (Sunoco) Marcus Hook Refinery | Petroleum Refining | 1902–present | Critical |
| 3 | Philadelphia Electric (PECO / Exelon) | Power Generation | 1902–1985 | High |
| 4 | Rohm and Haas Philadelphia | Specialty Chemicals | 1917–present | High |
| 5 | The Budd Company | Rail Car / Auto Manufacturing | 1912–1989 | High |
| 6 | Scott Paper Ridley Park | Paper Manufacturing | 1900–1995 | Moderate |
| 7 | Philadelphia Gas Works | Manufactured Gas | 1836–1970 | Moderate |
| 8 | Reading Railroad Shops | Railroad Maintenance | 1858–1976 | Moderate |
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Operating from 1801 through 1995, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was America’s oldest and most storied naval facility. At its WWII peak it employed over 40,000 civilian workers alongside Navy personnel, building and repairing warships with asbestos insulation throughout. Asbestos was used on steam systems, boiler rooms, engine rooms, and interior bulkheads of every ship that passed through the yard.
After closure in 1995, the Navy Yard site has been redeveloped as a commercial campus. Former workers and surviving family members continue to file mesothelioma claims under Pennsylvania’s 2-year statute of limitations. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Complex Litigation Center handles Pennsylvania asbestos cases and is considered a plaintiff-favorable venue.
Pennsylvania has a 2-year statute of limitations under 42 Pa. C.S. §5524, measured from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis (discovery rule). Wrongful death claims also have a 2-year window from the date of death. Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas maintains an active asbestos docket. Federal cases may be filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), which also hosts MDL 875 for federal asbestos coordination.