Mesothelioma is type of asbestos cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and is often times not diagnosed until years after the initial exposure. Research shows that an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma cancer are reported each year in the United States.
Incidences of mesothelioma cancer are known to increase with age and the illness is extremely rare in people under the age of 55. Those most susceptible of becoming mesothelioma cancer victims are those working with and around products containing asbestos, such as shipyard workers and miners.
Mesothelioma Cancer Victims in Top 5 States in USA
The states with the highest number of victims who have lost their lives due to mesothelioma cancer are California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and Texas.
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- California: Between 1999 and 2004, an estimated 1,508 California residents lost their lives after being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. The large number of mesothelioma cancer victims in California may be due to the high number of shipyards and steel mills that line the west coast. From San Diego to San Francisco, shipyards are abundant and account for a large portion of the shipbuilding and repair that is conducted in the United States. Asbestos was widely used in shipbuilding during the early wars of the 20th century, and many ships today still have asbestos-containing products.
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- Florida: According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) statistics, 1,060 people living in Florida died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2004. There are several shipyards in the state of Florida that employ thousands of workers, who are sometimes unknowingly exposed to asbestos cancer.
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- Pennsylvania: Most mesothelioma cancer victims in Pennsylvania were exposed to asbestos while working at the plants and mines that exist throughout the state. Known as the “rust belt” state, Pennsylvania is home to several companies where asbestos can be found.Employers often didn’t set guidelines for their workers in these plants and mines, especially before the risks of asbestos were fully known. As a result of their consistent exposure to asbestos, 1,010 mesothelioma cancer victims in this state lost their lives from 1999 to 2004.
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- New York: CDC figures show that 893 people living in the state of New York have lost their lives to mesothelioma cancer in the five year period spanning 1999 to 2004. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), New York State has three naturally occurring geological deposits of asbestos.New York is considered to be the place where the American asbestos industry developed so, as can be expected, many residents and workers have become mesothelioma cancer victims or at least been exposed to asbestos at some point in their lives. Places like the Astoria Powerhouse in Queens and the Arthur Kill Powerhouse in Staten Island are known nationwide for their use of asbestos. Asbestos was used in power plants since the amounts of heat generated require insulation for safety. For many decades, asbestos insulation was considered to be the most reliable at industrial plants in New York.
- Texas: Texas is a state that has had ongoing asbestos problems for the past 100 years due to their involvement in the domestic oil industry. The oil industry has become known as one of the industries that has been hardest hit by asbestos issues.Many mesothelioma cancer victims in Texas have chosen to take legal action. Employers at many of the companies where asbestos was used often didn’t take the necessary precautions to protect their workers. As a result, workers and their loved ones have been exposed to the carcinogen, their health has been put at risk and in some cases, their lives have been cut short.
Mesothelioma Centers for Victims in USA
To learn more about asbestos cancer or mesothelioma cancer rates in your state, contact mesothelioma treatment centers today. We’ll be happy to answer your questions.
