Dallas / Fort Worth Exposure Map
● Critical ● High ● Moderate
Major Asbestos Exposure Sites
| Facility / Setting | Industry | Risk Level | Active Period | Est. Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LTV / Vought Aircraft – Grand Prairie & Dallas | Aerospace / defense manufacturing | Critical | 1942–present (asbestos use 1942–mid 1980s) | ~18,000 peak |
| General Dynamics / Convair – Fort Worth | Aerospace / aircraft | High | 1940s–1990s | ~8,000 peak |
| Commercial Construction – Dallas Downtown | Commercial building construction | High | 1950s–1978 (peak asbestos use) | ~5,000 concurrent |
| Dallas Power & Light / TXU Power Plants | Electricity generation | High | 1920s–1990s | ~2,000 peak |
| Lone Star Gas / Enserco – DFW | Natural gas distribution | Moderate | 1930s–1990s | ~1,500 peak |
| Republic Natural Gas – Dallas | Petroleum / natural gas | Moderate | 1930s–1980s | ~1,000 peak |
LTV / Vought Aircraft: Aerospace Asbestos Exposure
Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) operated one of the largest aerospace manufacturing campuses in the country at its Grand Prairie and Dallas facilities, producing military aircraft including the F-8 Crusader, A-7 Corsair II, and B-2 components. At peak wartime and Cold War production, the facility employed over 18,000 workers.
Asbestos was used extensively in aerospace manufacturing for engine compartment insulation, heat shields, brake linings, gaskets, and firewall panels. Workers in aircraft assembly, engine repair, and facilities maintenance were exposed. The military aerospace sector is one of the less-publicized sources of mesothelioma litigation, but significant trust fund and lawsuit recoveries have been obtained for workers at aerospace facilities across the country.
Commercial Building Construction: The Hidden Exposure
The postwar Dallas commercial construction boom — which transformed the downtown skyline with high-rise office towers, hotels, and government buildings — relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials. Spray-applied fireproofing (used on structural steel from approximately 1958 to 1973), ceiling tiles, floor tiles, joint compound, and pipe insulation in commercial buildings created sustained exposure for:
- Ironworkers and structural steelworkers (direct spray fireproofing exposure)
- Drywall tapers and plasterers (joint compound containing asbestos through 1977)
- Carpenters and flooring workers (asbestos vinyl tile installation)
- Plumbers and HVAC mechanics (pipe insulation and duct work)
- Demolition and renovation crews working in older buildings
Commercial construction asbestos claims target the manufacturers of the specific asbestos-containing products used, not the building owner or general contractor. An experienced attorney will research the specific brands used in Dallas commercial construction during your working years.
Quite possibly. Workers in trades that routinely handled asbestos-containing materials during the 1960s and 1970s — drywall finishing, flooring, pipe insulation, or fireproofing spray — have the most direct exposure histories. Even if you don’t recall specific brand names, your attorney can research the products commonly used by Dallas-area contractors in your trade during those years. The value of your case depends on what products were present and which manufacturers’ trusts are still paying claims. A free consultation will determine whether your work history supports a viable case.