Union Carbide & Asbestos Exposure
Union Carbide operated an asbestos mine from the early 1960s to the mid-1980s, putting workers, their families, and local residents at risk of asbestos exposure and related illnesses.
Those who became sick due to Union Carbide’s negligence may be eligible for financial compensation to help with treatment costs and more.
Apply For CompensationKey Information
- Compensation: Victims who worked for Union Carbide or lived near its mine may be able to collect financial compensation.
- Asbestos Mines: Union Carbide operated an asbestos mine in King City, CA, and put thousands of people at risk of developing serious illnesses.
- Occupations: Union Carbide asbestos miners have the highest risk of asbestos-related diseases.
- Get Help Today: Contact our team of experts for a free case evaluation to see if you may qualify for compensation.
Union Carbide & History of Asbestos Usage
Union Carbide produced chemicals and polymers used in various household, industrial, and agricultural products. Between 1963 and 1985, the company operated an asbestos mine in King City, California, unearthing chrysotile asbestos sold under the brand name Calidria.
Due to mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships, the company is also known by several other names, including:
- Union Carbide
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation
- Carbide and Chemicals Corporation
- Bakelite Corporation
- Dow Chemical
- Dow Chemical Corporation
Union Carbide mined and processed asbestos, then sold it as Calidria to other companies for manufacturing products like paint, cement, wall coatings, and adhesives.
Internal documents and litigation reveal that the company’s leadership was aware of the dangers of asbestos but downplayed the risks to purchasers.
This has led to numerous lawsuits and a significant human toll, with workers developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Dangers of Asbestos-Related Diseases
Individuals who came in contact with asbestos mined and processed by Union Carbide are at a heightened risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
When handling this mineral, airborne asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested, leading to illnesses that may stay dormant for decades.
Union Carbide & Mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Union Carbide continued to mine asbestos despite knowing this risk.
Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, the protective linings of various organs but most frequently the lungs. This cancer often remains dormant for decades, leading to delayed diagnoses and more advanced stages when identified.
The typical prognosis for those diagnosed with mesothelioma ranges from 18 to 31 months post-diagnosis.
Financial Compensation From Union Carbide
Individuals who developed asbestos-related diseases due to Union Carbide’s actions may seek justice and financial compensation. Thankfully, options are available to support you and your family during this challenging time.
You don’t need to have worked directly for Union Carbide or lived near the company’s mine to qualify for compensation.
Because Union Carbide’s asbestos was widely used across various industries and products, you may be eligible to pursue legal action if your asbestos-related disease can be traced back to the company.
Unlike many other asbestos product manufacturers, Union Carbide does not have an asbestos trust fund as of 2025. Instead, it continues to litigate asbestos cases in court. Compensation can be pursued through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
Asbestos Lawsuits Against Union Carbide
Since Union Carbide does not have a trust fund, victims may file asbestos lawsuits against the company to collect compensation and hold it accountable for its negligence.
Some notable lawsuits against Union Carbide include:
- 2004
Victor Trinchese, a former Italian naval worker, filed a lawsuit against Union Carbide after developing mesothelioma from exposure to a joint compound laden with the company’s asbestos. The court held Union Carbide responsible and awarded the Trinchese family $4 million in compensation.
- 2010
Plumber Larry Stewart was diagnosed with mesothelioma due to exposure to Union Carbide asbestos in a joint compound used in drywall. Stewart and his family filed a lawsuit against the corporation, accusing them of fraud, negligence, and strict product liability for failure to provide warnings and defects in product design.
The court found Union Carbide 85% responsible for Stewart’s asbestos exposure and ordered the company to pay a total of $7.2 million to the Stewart family.
- 2012
After developing peritoneal mesothelioma from handling Union Carbide’s SG-210 Calidria product, William Aubin sued the company, claiming the product caused his disease.
The jury found Union Carbide responsible for damages due to negligence and defective design, ordering the corporation to pay the plaintiff $6.6 million. Although the Third District Court of Appeal overturned this verdict, the Supreme Court later reinstated it, stating that the Third District misapplied legal standards and wrongly dismissed the warning claim.
- 2014
The Izell family filed a lawsuit against Union Carbide after Bobbie Izell was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a result of exposure to the company’s asbestos-containing compound while overseeing construction sites.
Union Carbide was found 65% responsible for Bobbie’s mesothelioma and ordered to pay $6 million in compensatory damages and $18 million in punitive damages.
Calidria Asbestos Created by Union Carbide
Union Carbide mined chrysotile asbestos in its King City, CA mine from 1963 to 1985. The company processed the mineral and sold it under the brand name Calidria to other asbestos companies for use in various products, such as joint compounds, cement, and adhesives.
The widespread distribution of Union Carbide asbestos-containing products resulted in significant asbestos exposure across the country and potential health issues for all who came in contact with them.
Industries & Companies That Used Union Carbide’s Calidria Product
Union Carbide did not directly manufacture products containing asbestos; instead, it provided asbestos to other companies for their manufacturing processes.
The company sold Calidria asbestos to manufacturers in the following industries:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Automotive
- Pharmaceuticals
- Textiles
- Adhesives
- Paint
- Insulation
Companies known to have used Union Carbide’s Calidria include Georgia-Pacific, Kelly-Moore Paint Co., and U.S. Gypsum.
Union Carbide executives reportedly marketed Calidria as a uniquely safe asbestos product. However, an internal memo uncovered during a lawsuit by Kelly-Moore Paint Co. in the 1970s revealed the company’s strategy to “make hay while the sun shines,” pushing to ramp up production and distribute asbestos more rapidly, despite the associated risks.
Additional evidence shows that Union Carbide leadership ignored health warnings and did not update safety manuals to inform workers of the dangers of asbestos.
Occupations at Risk
While anyone exposed to Union Carbide asbestos or products containing the mineral may develop a related illness, certain occupations face a higher risk due to repeated exposure.
The asbestos extraction at the King City mine exposed hundreds of Union Carbide employees to asbestos between 1963 and 1985. Due to their work, these individuals faced significant risks from direct contact, likely inhaling harmful particles that contribute to conditions like mesothelioma.
Other occupations at risk of developing mesothelioma from Union Carbide products include:
- Carpenters
- Construction workers
- Drywall workers
- Mill workers
- Painters
Asbestos Miners
Asbestos miners are among those most likely to develop illnesses caused by asbestos exposure due to their direct handling of the material during mining operations. This daily exposure greatly increased their chances of developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Despite being aware of the dangers, Union Carbide failed to adequately inform many of its miners about the potential health consequences associated with asbestos exposure.
Dangers of Secondhand Exposure
In addition to the workers themselves, many others were also put at risk of asbestos exposure. Family members and loved ones who came into close contact with employees of the King City asbestos mine faced significant danger, as they could develop mesothelioma from secondhand exposure.
Asbestos fibers can cling to clothing, hair, shoes, and other personal items. When disturbed at home, these fibers can become airborne, putting individuals who never directly handled asbestos at serious risk of health complications.
Victims of secondhand asbestos exposure may also be eligible to pursue legal action against Union Carbide for its negligent use of asbestos.
Get Help Today
If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos from Union Carbide products, you may be entitled to compensation. Determining your eligibility for financial relief due to asbestos-related diseases can be complex, but our team is here to help.
We offer free resources and personalized case reviews to help you understand your rights and navigate the legal process. By contacting us, you’ll receive expert guidance tailored to your situation.
We are committed to supporting you throughout your journey — contact our team today to begin seeking justice and compensation.
Sources
- The American Lawyer, “Showdown In A Small Town”. Retrieved from https://kkcomcon.com/doc/Kelly-Moore-v-Union-Carbide.pdf
- National Library of Medicine, “Comparison of Calidria chrysotile asbestos to pure tremolite: final results of the inhalation biopersistence and histopathology examination following short-term exposure”. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16020039/.
- Los Angeles Times, “Once Surrounded By Asbestos, Now Surrounded By Their Fears”. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-25-fi-asbestos25-story.html
- Justia, “Fowler v. Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc.”. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/supreme-court/2022/a-5-21.html
- Justia, “Aveni v. Union Carbide Corporation”. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/superior-court/2017/n14c-06-037-asb.html
- Justia, “Aubin v. Union Carbide Corporation”. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/2015/sc12-2075.html
- Justia, “Izell v. Union Carbide Corporation”. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2014/b245085.html
- Law.com, “$48m Asbestos Verdict Is The Largest This Year”. Retrieved from https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/almID/1202560877195/
- Justia, “Stewart v. Union Carbide Corporation”. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2010/b216193/
- Los Angeles Times, “Union Carbide Liable For Asbestos Illnesses”. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-oct-25-fi-asbestos25-story.html
- Justia, Conwed Corporation v. Union Carbide Corporation. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/287/993/2476138/
- Justia. (2014). Sanchez v. Union Carbide Corp. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2014/b245085.html
- Casetext. (2015). Union Carbide Corp. v. Aubin. Retrieved from https://casetext.com/case/union-carbide-corp-v-aubin
- Justia. (2010). Izell v. Union Carbide Corp. Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2010/b216193/
- HarrisMartin. (2004). Appeals court upholds $4 million asbestos verdict for Italian naval electrician. Retrieved from https://www.harrismartin.com/publications/1/asbestos/articles/3591/appeals-court-upholds-4-million-asbestos-verdict-for-italian-naval-electrician/