Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in construction, shipbuilding, and other trades. States where these industries were common are among those hit hardest by asbestos-related deaths today.
Asbestos exposure can lead to illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. Some manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knew the risks but hid them from the public for decades to keep making money — and the results have been devastating.
An estimated 125 Million people have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, asbestos still hasn’t been fully banned, despite how dangerous it is.
Since symptoms can take 20-50 years to appear, many people exposed decades ago are only now getting sick. In just 18 years, 15 states alone have accounted for more than 185,000 asbestos-related deaths, according to the EWG Action Fund.
As a national asbestos law firm, Sokolove Law is committed to helping families affected by asbestos-related diseases. Find out more about which states have been hit hardest and how we may be able to help.
15. Minnesota
Deaths: 6,318
Mining is a big business in Minnesota, especially in the Iron Range. This mineral-rich region has allowed Minnesota to become a leading supplier of iron ore for the rest of America. However, the range also contains naturally occurring asbestos.
In the northeast corner of the state, St. Louis and Carlton counties are both located within the Iron Range and have reported a high number of asbestos-related deaths. For decades, miners in this region were exposed to asbestos while extracting ore.
Hennepin County has the highest number of asbestos-related deaths in the state. This may be partly due to the former W.R. Grace facility in Minneapolis, which processed asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana.
14. North Carolina
Deaths: 6,577
North Carolina has a number of coastal cities with heavy industry, shipbuilding, and power plants that likely contributed to the state’s high number of asbestos-related deaths. The state is also home to several talc deposits.
Talc, the softest mineral on earth, has a number of commercial and cosmetic uses. Unfortunately, talc and asbestos often occur together in geological formations, putting miners and anyone who used contaminated talc products at serious risk.
A jury awarded over $4 Million to a man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after using Old Spice® talcum powder for decades. The talc in this product was from a mine in North Carolina, which was linked to asbestos contamination.
13. Wisconsin
Deaths: 6,815
In Wisconsin, manufacturing and construction were major contributors to asbestos exposure, especially in urban and industrial hubs.
Asbestos-related deaths in the state are most common in highly populated counties near Milwaukee, the state’s largest city. Brown County, home to Green Bay, has also reported a significant number of asbestos-related deaths.
“We knew asbestos was in things, but at the time, we didn’t know it was dangerous or that it could cause cancer.”
– Dennis, Wisconsin Mechanic with Mesothelioma
When looking at the death rate per 100,000 people, northern Wisconsin counties stand out. While the total number of deaths is lower, the rate of asbestos-related deaths in these areas is alarmingly high.
This region overlaps with the eastern edge of the Iron Range. While that may not explain everything, it points to a long-standing lack of protection for miners — something that should have been addressed decades ago.
12. Virginia
Deaths: 8,095
A coastal state, Virginia is home to many who worked at shipyards like Newport News Shipbuilding and Naval Station Norfolk, which is the largest naval complex in the world. For decades, asbestos was widely used in ships at these sites.
Understandably, many of Virginia’s asbestos-related deaths are in counties along the Chesapeake Bay. However, to the west, asbestos exposure also stemmed from mining activity in the Appalachian Mountains.
One of the most devastating aspects of mesothelioma is that you don’t need to work directly with asbestos to develop the disease. Many workers unknowingly carried toxic fibers home on their clothing, exposing their spouses and children.
The full scope of secondhand asbestos exposure is hard to measure, but the Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that companies can be held responsible for non-employees harmed by asbestos brought home from the workplace.
11. Massachusetts
Deaths: 8,103
Despite being a smaller state, several factors contribute to Massachusetts ranking so high on this list, including its long history of industrial activity and shipbuilding. Asbestos was also used in many of the state’s residential and commercial buildings.
Massachusetts saw widespread asbestos use in shipyard work throughout the 20th century. U.S. Navy veterans who worked at shipyards in Boston and nearby Kittery, Maine faced an increased risk.
In one case, we secured $9.3 Million for the family of a U.S. Navy veteran in Massachusetts who passed away from mesothelioma.
10. Washington
Deaths: 9,200
Families all over Washington have been harmed by asbestos. For decades, asbestos was widely used in shipbuilding, oil refining, and paper production, which are all key industries that have helped power Washington’s economy.
Populous cities surrounding the Puget Sound have been the hardest hit, including Seattle, Kent, Tacoma, and Bremerton, home of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
Because the military used asbestos in virtually every U.S. Navy ship built before 1983, those who worked in shipyards or served aboard ships have an increased risk of exposure.
Further inland, workers in Washington’s timber industry were also at risk. Asbestos-containing materials were commonly used in paper mills and related facilities throughout the state.
9. Michigan
Deaths: 10,188
Michigan, once the automotive manufacturing capital of the world, will likely see new mesothelioma cases for years to come. Asbestos was widely used in brake pads and other car parts subject to wear and tear.
In the three counties surrounding Detroit, the famous Motor City, there were over 3,160 asbestos-related deaths in an 18-year period.
In the Upper Peninsula, there are multiple counties with a higher death rate than those outside Detroit, likely connected to mining operations in the Iron Range.
8. New Jersey
Deaths: 11,367
Every county in New Jersey has had over 100 asbestos-related deaths. Situated on the ocean between Philadelphia and New York City, the state has long been a manufacturing hub for the East Coast.
Asbestos used to be a big industry in New Jersey, and it has left its mark. The town of Manville in Somerset County is named for the Johns Manville Corporation, a former world-leader in the production of asbestos.
The company reportedly knew about the dangers of asbestos as early as the 1920s and didn’t tell their workers, resulting in many preventable deaths. It’s been decades since the plant in Manville closed down, but residents continue to pay the price.
7. Illinois
Deaths: 12,067
Illinois is the first Rust Belt state on this list, making it part of the former industrial heartland of the U.S., where manufacturing once fueled economic growth. While asbestos-related deaths are most concentrated in Chicago and its surrounding cities, the impact is widespread.
Counties around Peoria, Springfield, and those bordering St. Louis, Missouri have reported hundreds of asbestos-related deaths. Asbestos was used in school buildings, oil refineries, and power plants throughout the state.
On the shore of Waukegan, a city just north of Chicago, lies the site of a Johns Manville plant. The 150 acres contaminated by asbestos are being addressed by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund Cleanup Program.
“It’s unfortunate companies weren't forthcoming. My dad left my life earlier than he should have, and with prior knowledge about asbestos, he could have protected himself and lived his life longer with us”
– Jeff, Son of an IL Insulator with Mesothelioma
6. Ohio
Deaths: 12,697
Ohio has the most asbestos-related deaths of any landlocked state. Like many of the Rust Belt states, manufacturing spurred the growth of Ohio’s major cities, which have seen the highest number of deaths.
Manufacturers once used asbestos in everything from machinery to automotive parts. Five Ohio counties, each with a major city, report over 30 asbestos-related deaths annually. Cuyahoga County, home to Cleveland, leads with over 1,599 deaths in 18 years.
Contact us now if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. We may be able to fight for you.
5. New York
Deaths: 15,205
New York has long been a major port and industrial powerhouse — and asbestos was woven into that legacy. For decades, tons of asbestos passed through the state’s busy ports and were used in ships, buildings, and infrastructure projects.
Today, areas like New York City and Long Island continue to report high numbers of asbestos-related deaths.
In one case, our attorneys secured $5.4 Million in mesothelioma settlements for a New York client who was exposed to asbestos.
Talc miners in northern New York also regularly risked asbestos exposure. Erie County, where Buffalo is located, has reported over 1,400 asbestos-related deaths.
Tragedies like 9/11 and severe storms that destroyed older buildings also released asbestos into the air, putting first responders, cleanup crews, and nearby residents at risk of exposure.
4. Texas
Deaths: 15,384
Texas is home to many industries that used asbestos for decades, exposing workers in oil refineries, foundries, factories, and even offshore operations.
Asbestos exposure in Texas has largely affected counties surrounding major urban areas and along the coast. Harris County, which includes Houston, has seen an average of over 100 asbestos-related deaths per year — more than double the rate of any other county in the state.
Other cities have also experienced high rates of exposure. Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, and El Paso have each reported over 20 asbestos-related deaths a year.
3. Pennsylvania
Deaths: 17,717
Pennsylvania has been heavily impacted by asbestos exposure due to industries like oil refining, shipbuilding along the coast, steel manufacturing in Pittsburgh, and mining throughout the state. Few areas have been spared from its effects.
In Ambler, a town just north of Philadelphia in Montgomery County, asbestos-containing products were manufactured for over 100 years before operations finally ceased.
For much of that time, the carcinogenic risks of asbestos were not fully understood. Workers inhaled toxic fibers, and discarded materials were often handled without protective gear.
A study by the Pennsylvania Department of Health revealed that the mesothelioma rate in Ambler was 3.1 times higher than the state’s average — an alarming statistic in a state already dealing with widespread asbestos exposure.
2. Florida
Deaths: 18,206
Florida’s asbestos-related deaths can be traced to industries like manufacturing and refining, particularly in the state’s large coastal cities.
The southeast region of Florida, which includes Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, has the highest concentration of deaths. At least 17 counties in Florida average over 20 asbestos-related deaths annually.
The building boom during the decades when asbestos was widely used in construction materials continues to pose an ongoing risk to homeowners and construction workers.
In 2022 alone, 220 cases of mesothelioma were reported in Florida, highlighting the persistent impact of asbestos on residents of the state.
1. California
Deaths: 27,080
California has the highest number of asbestos-related deaths in the country, due in part to massive construction projects, a strong military presence, and its natural geology.
The state rock, serpentine, often contains asbestos, and some of the largest naturally occurring asbestos deposits in the world are here. For years, rocks and soil were blasted and moved for roadways and development, increasing the risk of exposure among construction workers.
During the peak years of asbestos use, a construction boom took place across the state. Asbestos was commonly added to building materials to improve strength and fire resistance, two major concerns in earthquake-prone areas.
Along the coast, there are mines, power plants, and refineries. Several large U.S. Navy shipyards in the state also have a history of asbestos exposure.
If you or a loved one worked in California, especially in a high-risk occupation, asbestos exposure may have been a real threat.
Fighting for Families Impacted by Asbestos-Related Diseases
For more than 45 years, Sokolove Law has been a leader in the fight against asbestos-related companies that put millions of Americans in harm’s way in order to make a profit.
Our asbestos attorneys can help families in all 50 states seek justice for illnesses like mesothelioma or lung cancer — and there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with us.
We’ve secured over $5.7 Billion for patients with asbestos-related diseases and their loved ones.
Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to see if we may be able to help you seek the compensation you deserve.
