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Did you work with Union Carbide Nuclear Division gaseous diffusion cascade cell asbestos-fabric lagging, converter shell insulation, and asbestos-block piping wrap at the K-25 (Oak Ridge TN), Portsmouth (Piketon OH), and Paducah (KY) gaseous diffusion plants? According to publicly filed asbestos litigation records, it allegedly contained asbestos. Here is what it was, who was exposed, and who is responsible. Union Carbide Nuclear Division gaseous diffusion cascade cell asbestos-fabric lagging, converter shell insulation, and asbestos-block piping wrap at the K-25 (Oak Ridge TN), Portsmouth (Piketon OH), and Paducah (KY) gaseous diffusion plants, sold from 1945 until 1985. Plaintiffs allegedly worked around Union Carbide Nuclear Division gaseous diffusion cascade cell asbestos-fabric lagging and converter insulation at the K-25, Portsmouth, and Paducah GDPs; EEOICPA coverage may also apply for former DOE contractor employees. Allegedly asbestos-woven fabric and asbestos-block thermal lagging on gaseous diffusion converters, compressors, and UF6 process piping — allegedly released fiber during hot-work, cell rebuilds, cascade barrier changeouts, and shutdown tear-out by DOE contractor operators, pipefitters, insulators, and maintenance mechanics. Workers allegedly exposed around this product included DOE contractor operators, Uranium enrichment operators, DOE facility pipefitters, and DOE facility insulators. Asbestos claims are brought against the companies that made the products. If you worked with or around Union Carbide Nuclear Division gaseous diffusion cascade cell asbestos-fabric lagging, converter shell insulation, and asbestos-block piping wrap at the K-25 (Oak Ridge TN), Portsmouth (Piketon OH), and Paducah (KY) gaseous diffusion plants and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease, you may have a legal claim against the manufacturer. This is educational information from an independent publisher — not a law firm — and is not legal advice.
Product Description
Plaintiffs alleged in publicly filed U.S. asbestos personal-injury and wrongful-death litigation that Union Carbide Corporation’s Nuclear Division — as prime DOE (and predecessor AEC/ERDA) operating contractor at the K-25 gaseous diffusion plant in Oak Ridge TN, the Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant in Piketon OH, and the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant in western KY — allegedly specified, installed, and maintained asbestos-woven fabric lagging and asbestos-block thermal insulation on gaseous diffusion cascade converters, axial compressors, coolers, and UF6 (uranium hexafluoride) process piping runs. The asbestos lagging allegedly maintained cascade thermal stability across thousands of stages of enrichment cells operating at elevated temperatures under UF6 process gas.
Plaintiffs alleged that Union Carbide Nuclear cascade asbestos-containing lagging remained in service across all three GDPs from initial Manhattan Project / early Cold War startup through the mid-1980s cell rebuild campaigns, requiring repeated tear-out and re-lagging during cascade upgrade projects and barrier tube changeouts.
Workers Exposed
Plaintiffs allegedly exposed to Union Carbide Nuclear Division gaseous diffusion cascade asbestos-containing components include:
- DOE contractor cascade operators walking process floors at K-25, Portsmouth, and Paducah
- Uranium enrichment operators performing cell isolation and re-entry procedures
- DOE facility pipefitters cutting into and re-tying UF6 process piping runs
- DOE facility insulators stripping and re-lagging converter and compressor shells
- DOE facility maintenance mechanics performing compressor and cell rebuilds
- Radiation control technicians and health physics staff working in cascade cell floors
- DOE facility instrumentation techs on cascade process controls
- Cascade decontamination and demolition (D&D) crews on later shutdown campaigns
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If You Worked at Union Carbide Nuclear
If you or a family member worked at Union Carbide Nuclear and were exposed to asbestos-containing materials at this facility — and were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease — you may have a legal claim. Time-sensitive filing deadlines apply.
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