Charleston Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Area | Industry | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston Naval Shipyard | North Charleston | Naval Shipbuilding / Repair | Critical |
| 2 | Charleston Naval Base | North Charleston | Naval Base | High |
| 3 | Stone Container Corp. | North Charleston | Paper / Pulp Manufacturing | Moderate |
| 4 | South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) | Charleston area | Power Generation | Moderate |
| 5 | Port of Charleston Terminals | Charleston | Maritime / Port | Moderate |
Charleston Naval Shipyard: Nearly a Century of Ship Repair
The Charleston Naval Shipyard opened in 1901 and became one of the Navy’s primary East Coast facilities for building and repairing destroyers, submarines, and support vessels through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War. At its WWII peak, the shipyard employed roughly 26,000 workers — making it one of the largest employers in South Carolina history.
Asbestos was used throughout every vessel repaired or built at the shipyard, from pipe insulation and boiler lagging to bulkhead fireproofing and deck tile adhesive. Pipefitters, boilermakers, and insulators working in engine rooms faced the heaviest exposure, but the shipyard’s scale meant asbestos dust was present throughout the drydocks and support buildings.
The shipyard closed in 1996 as part of a national round of base closures, but former workers — particularly those employed from the 1940s through the 1970s — continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma decades after their exposure.
Yes — extensively. The Charleston Naval Shipyard used asbestos throughout ship construction and repair from 1901 until its 1996 closure, including pipe insulation, boiler lagging, and fireproofing. South Carolina’s 3-year statute of limitations (S.C. Code § 15-3-530) runs from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis.