Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Maine

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Maine

Prolonged exposure to microscopic asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of internal organs. From 2017 to 2021, Maine reported an age-adjusted mesothelioma rate of 1.3 cases per 100,000 people, with 129 new cases diagnosed during this period. According to the CDC, Maine recorded the highest asbestos-related death rate in the United States in 2017.

In addition to mesothelioma, asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of lung cancer. In 2023, Maine reported an estimated 1,550 new lung and bronchus cancer cases, resulting in approximately 870 deaths.

Between 2017 and 2021, the age-adjusted lung cancer rate in Maine was 67.3 per 100,000 people, with 7,205 new cases recorded. As of 2014, the state's lung cancer incidence rate stood at 67.7, exceeding the national average of 53.6. While Maine ranks 44th nationwide for lung cancer incidence, the rate of new cases has improved by approximately 10 percent over the last five years.

Maine's long industrial history and aging infrastructure have left many workers and residents unknowingly exposed to asbestos for decades.

Contributing Factors to Asbestos Exposure

Several traditional industries have played a major role in asbestos exposure across Maine. Shipbuilding, construction, and boat building relied heavily on asbestos for insulation and fireproofing. Shipyards such as the New England Shipbuilding Corporation and South Dry Dock in South Portland used asbestos extensively, placing workers and military veterans at elevated risk.

Power generation also contributed to exposure, particularly at facilities like the Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, where asbestos was used to insulate boilers, turbines, and machinery. Similarly, Maine's paper industry�including companies such as Oxford Paper Company and Georgia Pacific Paper Mill�used asbestos in drying equipment, machinery insulation, and sandpaper backing.

Residential exposure remains a concern, as approximately 31 percent of homes in Maine were built before 1950 and may contain asbestos materials. Renovation, repair, or demolition of these structures can release harmful fibers into the air. Veterans account for nearly 30 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses in the state, largely due to asbestos use at military installations such as Dow Air Force Base.

Smoking further increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer among individuals exposed to asbestos, compounding long-term health risks.

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

LEAD ASBESTOS ATTORNEYS

Ryan G. Dickherber

John F. Theil

High-Risk Occupations in Maine

Maine's natural asbestos deposits and widespread industrial use exposed workers in several occupations to dangerous levels of asbestos over many years.

Shipbuilders

Shipyards were among the most hazardous workplaces for asbestos exposure. Boilers, pipes, insulation, and engine components commonly contained asbestos. Workers at major shipbuilding sites in South Portland, as well as Navy veterans who served aboard asbestos-lined vessels, faced prolonged exposure.

Power Plant Workers

Prior to the 1980s, asbestos was a standard material in power plants. Workers were routinely exposed while maintaining boilers, turbines, and piping systems. Facilities such as the Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant contained extensive asbestos materials.

Veterans

Military veterans, particularly those who served before the 1980s, encountered asbestos in ships, base housing, and protective equipment. Asbestos was widely used across all military branches, contributing to a disproportionate number of mesothelioma diagnoses among veterans.

Steelworkers

Steel and metalworkers relied on asbestos-insulated gloves, aprons, and protective sprays to withstand extreme heat. Daily hands-on contact with asbestos products placed workers at facilities such as the Sanford Sheet Plant at heightened risk.

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Cities in Maine with Asbestos

There are 137 cities in Maine that are covered by Asbestos Trust Funds

Key Asbestos-Related Settlements and Verdicts in Maine

$7.78 Million � Marine Engineer, Sunset, Maine

A marine engineer developed mesothelioma after years of exposure while working with asbestos-containing ship engines and piping systems. The court awarded $7.78 million, citing unsafe working conditions and failure to warn of known hazards.

$3.5 Million � Paper Company Worker, Machias, Maine

A former paper mill employee received a $3.5 million settlement after being exposed to asbestos in machinery insulation and piping. The claim was brought against manufacturers who neglected safety responsibilities.

$2.77 Million � Veteran and Equipment Operator, York, Maine

A military veteran and heavy equipment operator was awarded $2.77 million after demonstrating asbestos exposure during both military service and civilian employment.

$2.42 Million � Union Sheet Metal Worker, Wiscasset, Maine

A union sheet metal worker who regularly handled asbestos-insulated ductwork and building materials secured a $2.42 million verdict following a mesothelioma diagnosis.