Asbestos in North Dakota
North Dakota residents who worked jobs in construction, manufacturing, industrial work and power generation faced the highest risks of asbestos exposure in the state.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Arti Shukla, Ph.D. | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 17, 2024
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Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed By Arti Shukla, Ph.D. | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 17, 2024
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Ranking in Deaths:45th -
Mesothelioma Deaths:148 -
Asbestosis Deaths:N/A -
Total Deaths:148
Asbestos Exposure in North Dakota
North Dakota has a low death rate from asbestos-related diseases. It is the third least-populated state in the nation, with much of its economy based on agriculture.
States with the highest rates have economies driven by mining, manufacturing or other industry. But, North Dakota residents still face an increased risk of asbestos exposure.
Natural disasters, natural deposits and hazardous job sites present risks. Toxic asbestos may be as close to residents as within the four walls of their North Dakota homes. Homes and buildings across the state contain asbestos construction materials.
Asbestos lawsuits are not common in North Dakota despite known instances of exposure. The state’s asbestos litigation laws present challenges to asbestos plaintiffs. For example, in 2021, North Dakota legislators passed a bill affecting plaintiffs. It requires them to submit evidence for each defendant when filing an asbestos claim. This step often happens after filing the claim.
Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Montana hospitals and surrounding states offer treatment for these conditions.
Occupations and Environmental Areas at Risk in North Dakota
Occupational asbestos exposure in the state stems from construction and industrial jobs.
Occupations with asbestos exposure hazards:
- Insulators
- Construction workers
- Industrial plant workers
- Power generation workers
- Agricultural workers and farmers
- Oil refinery workers
Job Sites with Known Asbestos Exposure
Occupational exposure refers to an employee’s interaction with asbestos in the workplace. Despite North Dakota’s relatively low number of mesothelioma cases, some places within the state still face a serious threat. Certain job sites have had confirmed cases of asbestos exposure where the full extent of harm is still not yet known.
Robinson Insulation Plant
Located in Minot, North Dakota, the former Robinson Insulation Plant was a job site where employees were exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos. From 1967 and 1983, the plant housed over 16,000 tons of asbestos-containing vermiculite. The surrounding areas of the plant consisted of industrial, residential and commercial sites.
Environmental samples from the Robinson Insulation Plant showed that some of the asbestos came from a mine in Libby, Montana. The city purchased the buildings and demolished them. All former employees of the plant should undergo medical testing to identify any potential health issues on an annual basis.
Asbestos-tainted vermiculite from Libby, Montana, went to three other cities in North Dakota. The vast majority of it went to Stanton and Minot.
Minot and Widespread Flooding
In the summer of 2011, agencies warned homeowners in the city of Minot and surrounding areas that asbestos exposure was a serious threat. Homes that were destroyed by recent floods possibly contained asbestos.
By some accounts, the floods of 2011 were the worst floods in the state’s history. More than 11,000 residents were evacuated and more than 4,000 homes were damaged. The underlying environmental threat existed within the materials in the homes. Some homes likely contained asbestos in either the foundation of the structure or in various products throughout the home.
Zonolite insulation, a branded form of vermiculite-containing asbestos material, was of major concern for local health organizations. This attic insulation was likely used in thousands of homes in the state during previous decades, where it likely remains today.
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Get Your Free GuideAsbestos Fines in North Dakota
Illegal handling of asbestos projects in North Dakota may result in steep fines and possibly jail time.
For example, the owner of Meide & Son pleaded guilty in 1998 to illegally removing and disposing of asbestos-containing materials during renovations to the Ben Franklin and Action Reaction Sports stores in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Jerry Meide was sentenced to 10 months in jail with one year of supervision upon release. He was also ordered to pay $200,000, which included the cost of asbestos cleanup and a $100,000 fine.
This Page Contains 15 Cited Articles
The sources on all content featured in The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com include medical and scientific studies, peer-reviewed studies and other research documents from reputable organizations.
- MacPherson, J. (2021, May 26). Critics of North Dakota law: Get asbestos health screening. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-laws-health-business-government-and-politics-1eba377afaee78197c058b0fca487e2f
- U.S. Census Bureau. (2011). North Dakota. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/
- Environmental Working Group. (2009). Government statistics on deaths due to asbestos-related diseases. Retrieved from http://www.ewg.org/research/maps/deaths-due-asbestos-related-diseases
- American Red Cross. (2011, July 15). Red Cross Assists Residents in North Dakota. Retrieved from http://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/latest-news
- Sanford Health. (2011). Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center. Retrieved from http://www.sanfordhealth.org/Locations/883069297
- Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. (n.d.) Former Robinson Insulation Minot Plant, Minot, North Dakota. Retrieved from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/sites/national_map/fact_sheets/pdf/minotnd-fs.pdf
- Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. (2009). Fact Sheet: Minot, ND. Retrieved from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/sites/national_map/fact_sheets/minotnd.html
- Brown, M. (2011, May 3). Libby, Montana: Health Risk Remains In Asbestos-Plagued Town. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/04/libby-montana-asbestos-superfund_n_857713.html
- O'Brien, J. (2011, February 23). Out-of-staters Tossed from North Dakota Courts. Retrieved from https://legalnewsline.com/stories/510524254-out-of-staters-tossed-from-north-dakota-courts
- Supreme Court of North Dakota. (1997, January 16). Anderson v. A.P.I. Co. of Minnesota. Leagle. Retrieved from https://www.leagle.com/decision/1997763559nw2d2041763
- Supreme Court of North Dakota. (1997, January 16). Hebron Public School District No. 13 of Morton County, State of North Dakota v. U.S. Gypsum. OpenJurist. Retrieved from http://openjurist.org/953/f2d/398/hebron-public-school-district-no-of-morton-county-state-of-north-dakota-v-us-gypsum
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2018). Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2017. Retrieved from http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
- Carbone, M. et al. (2011). Erionite exposure in North Dakota and Turkish villages with mesothelioma. https://www.pnas.org/content/108/33/13618.full
- Van Gosen, B.S. et al. (2013). Geologic occurrences of erionite in the United States: an emerging national public health concern for respiratory disease. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10653-012-9504-9
- North Dakota Department of Health. (n.d.). Erionite. https://deq.nd.gov/Erionite/
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