Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Iowa (IA)

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Iowa

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting the mesothelial layer, a thin tissue lining many internal organs. The disease is caused by prolonged asbestos exposure. From 2017 to 2021, the age-adjusted mesothelioma rate in Iowa was 0.7 per 100,000 people, with 142 new cases reported during this period.

Lung cancer is another serious disease associated with asbestos exposure. In 2023, an estimated 2,680 new cases of lung and bronchus cancer were reported in Iowa, resulting in approximately 1,410 deaths.

Between 2017 and 2021, Iowa recorded an age-adjusted lung cancer rate of 60.8 per 100,000 people, with 12,766 new cases. The state's new lung cancer rate of 61.2 is significantly higher than the national average of 53.6. Iowa ranks 39th in the United States for lung cancer incidence, although the rate of new cases has improved by 10% over the last five years.

Although Iowa has no naturally occurring asbestos, workplace and household exposure has contributed to thousands of asbestos-related illnesses across the state.

Contributing Factors

Despite the absence of natural asbestos deposits, most exposure cases in Iowa occurred in workplaces or homes. Workers at power plants such as the Duane Arnold Energy Center and farmers using asbestos-containing machinery faced some of the highest risks.

Additional exposure affected employees at the National Gypsum Company, chemical plants, and military personnel stationed at the Ottumwa U.S. Naval Reserve Aviation Base. These occupational hazards have resulted in thousands of workers and family members being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Lung cancer is also prevalent in many Iowa counties due to asbestos exposure, with smoking further increasing the risk both at work and at home.