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Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in New Jersey

Mesothelioma and lung cancer remain serious public health concerns in New Jersey due to the state's long history of asbestos use in industrial, construction, and maritime settings. Despite increased regulation and awareness, the legacy of asbestos exposure continues to affect workers and residents across the state. [1](L1)

New Jersey's industrial legacy has left a lasting health impact, with asbestos-related diseases continuing to emerge decades after exposure occurred.

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in New Jersey

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. Between 2017 and 2021, New Jersey recorded an age-adjusted incidence rate of 0.9 cases per 100,000 people, with a total of 526 new diagnoses during that period. [1](L2)

Lung cancer, which can also be linked to asbestos exposure, is far more common. From 2017 to 2021, the state reported 29,047 new lung cancer cases, representing an incidence rate of 49.1 per 100,000 residents. In 2023 alone, approximately 5,920 new lung cancer cases were diagnosed, and 2,800 deaths were recorded. [1](L3)

These figures underscore the ongoing impact of asbestos exposure on public health in the Garden State and highlight the importance of continued awareness, monitoring, and early detection efforts. [1](L4)

Was I exposed to asbestos in New Jersey?

Select a city in new-jersey-asbestos-lawyers where you or a household member worked to see the jobsites in New Jersey 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.

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Contributing Factors

New Jersey's extensive industrial history has played a major role in widespread asbestos exposure. The state contains 38 cataloged asbestos mines and natural deposits, with particularly high asbestos-related mortality rates in Somerset County, as well as Gloucester and Salem Counties. [1](L5)

The state was historically a center for chemical and plastics manufacturing and featured numerous shipyards and dry docks along its coastline. Cities such as Newark, Camden, and Elizabeth relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials for shipbuilding, construction, and equipment maintenance. Workers in these environments were routinely exposed to hazardous asbestos fibers. [1](L6)

Prolonged asbestos exposure is known to cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other serious diseases, even among non-smokers. The health consequences of New Jersey's industrial past continue to surface decades after initial exposure. [1](L7)

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Cities in New Jersey with Asbestos

There are 674 cities in New Jersey that are covered by Asbestos Trust Funds

High-Risk Occupations in New Jersey

As New Jersey transitioned from agriculture to industrial employment, thousands of workers found jobs in sectors that carried significant asbestos exposure risks. Industries such as textiles, power generation, and iron mining contributed heavily to this exposure. [1](L8)

Insulation Workers

In the early 1900s, Johns Manville opened its first asbestos insulation plant in central New Jersey, placing insulation workers at particularly high risk. The company's asbestos legacy later became a political issue when redevelopment plans emphasized the need for proper asbestos abatement to protect public health. [1](L9)

Chemical Plant Workers

Workers at chemical facilities such as A.O. Polymer, which operated from the 1960s until 1993, were exposed to asbestos during plastics and resin production. The plant faced multiple health violations in the 1970s, and a 1981 cleanup removed more than 60 cubic yards of asbestos-containing materials. [1](L10)

Construction Workers

Construction workers in New Jersey continue to face asbestos risks when renovating or demolishing older buildings. Locations such as the abandoned Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in Morris County are known to contain asbestos. Mesothelioma cases linked to construction exposure have been reported in towns including Hamilton, Millington, Newark, and Trenton. [1](L11)

Data from the CDC showed that Gloucester and Camden Townships experienced mesothelioma rates nearly twice the state average between 2016 and 2020. [1](L11)

Key Asbestos Lawsuits & Settlements in New Jersey

$30.2 Million Settlement for New Jersey

Johnson & Johnson agreed to a $700 million multi-state settlement over allegations that it falsely marketed talcum powder products as safe despite potential asbestos contamination. New Jersey will receive $30.2 million from the settlement, which will fund consumer protection and public health initiatives. The company did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to stop selling talc-based products in the United States. [1](L12)

$38 Million Verdict: Romeo Maffei vs. Burnham LLC (2023)

In 2023, construction demolition worker Romeo Maffei was awarded a $38 million verdict in New York after a jury found Burnham LLC largely responsible for his stage-four lung cancer. The case centered on asbestos exposure from handling boilers in the 1970s and 1980s, and included $6.5 million in punitive damages. [1](L13)

$30 Million Verdict: Mark Buttitta vs. General Motors (2008)

A New Jersey jury awarded $30.3 million to the family of Mark Buttitta, who died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure while working at a General Motors warehouse in the 1970s. General Motors and several suppliers were found liable for his death. [1](L14)

Asbestos Exposure by State

Recognition Received