If you were to look up the incidence rate of mesothelioma in the U.S., you’d quickly find that the American Cancer Society contends that there are an estimated 3,000 patients who receive this diagnosis every year.
While that number accounts for around only 0.3% of cancer diagnoses each year in our country, if you’re one of those patients who has, unfortunately, been told you have this rare, debilitating, and still incurable cancer, you know first-hand how life-altering such a diagnosis can be. In trying to make sense of your diagnosis, you may start to wonder, where is mesothelioma most common?
Researchers have spent a lot of time looking into where mesothelioma is most prevalent and have sought to identify factors that may cause these cancer diagnoses to be more heavily concentrated in those areas versus others. Let’s deep-dive into what that research shows.
States That Have the Highest Concentration of Mesothelioma Patients
One landmark study published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health in 2013 that was later republished by the National Library of Medicine detailed how prevalent mesothelioma was in all 50 states. Two notable pieces of data arose from that study, including:
States With the Most New Mesothelioma Diagnoses
As for which states’ residents appear to be diagnosed with mesothelioma the most, the following states have the absolute highest rates in the country:
- California
- Texas
- Florida
- Pennsylvania
- New York
Each of the states above falls into the upper 10th category of new diagnosis. Following closely behind are Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and Massachusetts.
Among the states with the lowest new mesothelioma diagnoses are Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
States With the Highest Mesothelioma Incidence Rate
As for overall incidence rates of this disease, which has to do with the percentage of the population per 100,000 individuals who have this condition, the following states have the highest concentration of this cancer among their population:
- Alaska
- Washington
- West Virginia
- New Jersey
- Maine
Following closely behind the states listed above include Wyoming, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The states with the lowest apparent overall incidence rates of mesothelioma include South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, and South Dakota.
Factors That Contribute to More Mesothelioma Diagnoses in One Place Versus Another
Identifying specific reasons why some states’ residents may be more susceptible to receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis over the next few years may be challenging merely because of our population migrating. However, there are some factors to consider that may make some areas more likely to be home to mesothelioma patients over others, which are:
- An abundance of military bases: Whether we’re discussing naval shipyards, marine bases, or different army forts, these may all be homes to not only older buildings that were constructed when using asbestos-rich materials was still customary but service members may have been responsible for repairing planes, boats, tanks, and other heavy equipment that may have unexpectedly exposed them to asbestos fibers.
- Higher traffic congestion: Southern California is particularly known for having a high concentration of cars on its freeways. Not only does this increase the risk for serious car accidents, but time spent in traffic can significantly wear down vehicles, leading them to need more frequent repairs, like brake pad replacements, which can expose mechanics to carcinogenic asbestos fibers on a more regular basis than others in the country.
- Mining, quarrying, and cleanup pose dangers: There are still parts of California where mining occurs. In other areas, while that’s something of yesteryear, there are still areas that were once exploited that are replete with toxic asbestos fibers. Most of these locales have been identified as California asbestos superfund sites and are in the process of being cleaned up or slated for it.
- Construction crews: Historic home renovation professionals risk exposure to asbestos fibers as they update homes and replace the outdated materials they were constructed with. Unless they properly seal off the area where remediation is occurring, wear proper protective gear when removing the harmful fibers, and follow the proper protocol after completing the job, they run the risk of exposure to the toxic mineral and also exposing their family member to the same.
The above are just a few examples of factors that may increase the risk of certain individuals in specific areas to asbestos, which is known to cause mesothelioma.
What To Do If You’ve Recently Been Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
It’s more than disheartening to learn that you or a close family member has mesothelioma. While the prognosis you or your loved one faces can be hard to come to terms with, the good news is that there are various treatment options being closely monitored as part of clinical research studies that are showing promise for helping alleviate patient symptoms, perhaps prolonging lives.
Getting the latest and highest quality care can come with a cost, though. Our legal team at Frost Law Firm, PC can help you recover the compensation necessary to pay for the treatment you need to have the best possible outcome. So, contact us to speak with a mesothelioma attorney in Los Angeles who understands what you’re going through and how to secure the funds you need to have the best possible prognosis. Meeting with us to learn more about your rights is free.
