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Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Florida (FL)

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Florida

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. It develops in the thin lining surrounding internal organs. In Florida, the age-adjusted mesothelioma rate from 2017 to 2021 was 0.7 per 100,000 people, with 1,143 new cases reported during that period. Industries such as shipbuilding, construction, and manufacturing have historically increased the risk of asbestos exposure for workers and their families.

Asbestos exposure also significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. In 2023, an estimated 19,340 new cases of lung and bronchus cancer were reported in Florida, with approximately 10,230 related deaths.

Between 2017 and 2021, Florida reported 89,159 new lung cancer cases, with an age-adjusted rate of 54.3 per 100,000 people. In 2024, the rate increased slightly to 54.7, exceeding the national average of 53.6. Florida ranks 23rd in the United States for lung cancer incidence, though the rate of new cases has improved by 12% over the past five years.

Florida's long industrial history has left a lasting public health impact, particularly for workers exposed to asbestos decades ago.

Contributing Factors

Florida is home to diverse industries ranging from tourism to shipbuilding, manufacturing, and citrus production. The state's rich natural resources and economic activity led to widespread asbestos use, exposing workers and, through secondary exposure, their family members.

Common victims of asbestos-related mesothelioma include individuals working in construction, steelworks, pipefitting, automotive manufacturing, shipyards, and welding. Veterans, particularly those from the Merchant Marine and Navy, have also been significantly affected. Lung cancer remains a major concern, especially among smokers with prior asbestos exposure.

Was I exposed to asbestos in Florida?

Select a city in florida-asbestos-lawyers where you or a household member worked to see the jobsites in Florida with known asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure has affected workers and families in every state, across countless industries, and often long after the original exposure occurred. Asbestos-related illness is not limited to any single region. Exposure has occurred in factories, power plants, oil refineries, shipyards, schools, hospitals, military bases, and residential buildings throughout the United States.

Workplace

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High-Risk Occupations for Asbestos Exposure in Florida

Many Florida industries used asbestos extensively for decades. Workers in shipbuilding, construction, and power generation faced occupational exposure, while families were at risk due to asbestos fibers carried home on clothing and hair.

Power Plant Workers

Nearly 14 power plants in Florida have been identified as asbestos exposure sites. Facilities such as the FPL Sanford Power Plant, George E. Turner Power Plant, Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, Cutler Power Plant, and Riviera Beach Electric Plant used asbestos to insulate turbines, pipes, and boilers.

Electricians, boiler workers, and pipefitters working at these plants were among those at the highest risk of exposure.

Shipyard Workers

Florida's extensive coastline led to the development of numerous shipyards where asbestos was widely used for its resistance to heat, corrosion, and electricity. On ships and in shipyards, asbestos insulated pipes and machinery, exposing workers to toxic fibers.

Notable shipyards included Tampa Bay Shipbuilding, Atlantic Dry Dock, and Hendry Corporation. Tampa Shipbuilding, founded in 1917, was once the largest employer in Tampa and produced a wide range of vessels.

Atlantic Dry Dock, launched in the 1960s, serviced large vessels and drilling rigs, while Hendry Corporation, based in Tampa since 1926, repaired commercial and government ships. Thousands of workers at these sites were exposed to asbestos.

Refinery Workers

Offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico began in the early 1940s. Due to fire risks, many offshore drilling rigs contained asbestos. Refinery workers operating and maintaining this equipment were exposed to hazardous fibers.

Sugarcane refinery workers in Florida also faced asbestos exposure. Until the mid-1960s, sugar refining equipment used by companies such as Food Products Company and Florida Sugar contained asbestos, placing thousands of workers at risk.

Navy Veterans

Navy veterans serving on ships, air stations, and naval bases were frequently exposed to asbestos. At Naval Air Station Pensacola, personnel trained for service in World Wars and the Korean War, while Naval Station Mayport, commissioned in 1942, housed ships and aircraft facilities where asbestos was commonly present.

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Cities in Florida with Asbestos

There are 337 cities in Florida that are covered by Asbestos Trust Funds

Landmark Florida Asbestos Verdict

D.B. vs. Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

In February 2025, a Florida jury awarded approximately $9 million in a wrongful death case involving D.B., an employee benefits advisor. Although he never worked directly for Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, he regularly visited the company's facilities between 1978 and 1997.

These facilities contained asbestos-laden materials, particularly in piping systems. D.B.'s visits often coincided with maintenance activities, exposing him to airborne asbestos fibers. He was later diagnosed with mesothelioma, which led to his death.

Evidence showed that D.B. spent more than 500 days at one facility, significantly increasing his exposure risk. The jury awarded his widow $8.5 million in compensatory damages and additional funds for medical and funeral expenses. The South Florida appeals court later affirmed the verdict.

In Florida, the Celotex Asbestos Settlement Trust is a key asbestos trust fund. Celotex Corporation relocated its headquarters to Tampa in 1965 and later filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to extensive asbestos-related lawsuits. The trust was established on February 1, 1998, to resolve these claims.

Asbestos Exposure by State

Recognition Received