Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Louisiana

Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Prevalence in Louisiana

CDC data from 2017�2021 reveals critical insights into mesothelioma and lung cancer rates in Louisiana. The age-adjusted rate of mesothelioma was 1.1 per 100,000 people, with 290 reported cases. During the same period, the age-adjusted rate of lung and bronchus cancer reached 61.1 per 100,000 people, totaling 17,616 cases.

Between 1997 and 2017, Louisiana recorded 5,092 asbestos-related deaths. This figure includes 927 mesothelioma deaths and approximately 3,708 non-mesothelioma lung cancer deaths. The state's asbestos-related death rate of 5.9 per 100,000 people exceeds the national average of 4.9 per 100,000.

Contributing Factors

Asbestos exposure poses significant risks to workers in construction, mechanical trades, mining, demolition, drywall installation, manufacturing, plumbing, shipyards, pipefitting, and roofing. These occupations have historically experienced higher exposure levels, contributing to increased rates of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.

Asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana was distributed to multiple processing plants across Louisiana. Communities surrounding exfoliation plants in Jefferson Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, and Orleans Parish are believed to have suffered some of the highest exposure levels in the state.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina further increased exposure risks as damaged older structures released asbestos fibers and other hazardous materials into the air, affecting both workers and residents.

Louisiana's long history of oil refining, shipbuilding, and industrial development has made asbestos exposure an enduring public health concern across multiple generations.

Oil refineries and shipyards along the Gulf of Mexico have been major asbestos exposure hotspots. In addition, several EPA-approved Superfund sites throughout Louisiana have contributed to ongoing asbestos-related hazards.

While smoking remains the leading cause of lung cancer in Louisiana, asbestos exposure and sugarcane farming also represent significant risk factors. Older buildings constructed before 1980, including schools and colleges, are more likely to contain asbestos materials.