Asbestos

Moundsville, West Virginia has always been a highly industrial area. For much of the 20th century, especially in the middle decades, plants seemingly sprang up everywhere and locals found employment and the American Dream in a place that was suitable for bringing up children and making a life that would be perhaps hard, but content.

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So, you’re a smoker. Millions of Americans are, even today, when all the risks associated with smoking are quite apparent. Maybe you enjoy lighting up during your breaks, at lunch time, or after a long day at the factory. Perhaps it’s a way to relax, a way to unwind after the stresses of a tedious and difficult work shift.

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In the mid-20th century, coal-fired power stations were all the rage, especially in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, where coal mining has long been a major industry. Whereas other parts of the country may have been unfamiliar with such power plants, they became an everyday sight to those who reside in that area. The plants were touted as efficient and the companies that ran them employed hundreds of locals in a variety of different jobs. Many of them are still operating today.

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In West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the coal mining industry has employed hundreds of thousands of individuals over the centuries. For many families, working in the mines has been a given, with one generation after another laboring in places where many of us would never dare to go. Coal mining is grueling work and, often, coal miners live short lives due to the risks associated with their jobs.

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Koppers Follansbee Plant – The tiny city of Follansbee, West Virginia, population about 3,000, is a humble place. With a median household income of only $30,000 per year, according to the 2010 census, it’s a place where people have historically worked hard for the little bit of money that they make.

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