Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Maryland

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Maryland

Prolonged exposure to microscopic asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the thin lining surrounding internal organs. From 2017 to 2021, Maryland reported an age-adjusted mesothelioma rate of 0.7 cases per 100,000 people, with 238 newly diagnosed cases statewide.

Asbestos exposure is also a known cause of lung cancer. In 2023, Maryland recorded an estimated 4,290 new cases of lung and bronchus cancer, resulting in approximately 3,250 deaths during the same year.

Between 2017 and 2021, the state's age-adjusted lung cancer rate was 50.0 cases per 100,000 people, totaling 19,150 new cases. This rate remains lower than the national average, placing Maryland 16th among U.S. states and reflecting a 19 percent improvement over the past five years.

Maryland's long industrial and military history has left a legacy of asbestos exposure that continues to affect workers, veterans, and families across the state.