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Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in Tennessee

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in Tennessee

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that develops in the mesothelial layers, which are the thin linings surrounding internal organs such as the lungs, stomach, and intestines. Prolonged exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma.

According to CDC statistics, the age-adjusted rate of mesothelioma in Tennessee between 2017 and 2021 was 0.6 cases per 100,000 people, with 249 new cases reported statewide during that period.

Long-term asbestos exposure remains the leading cause of mesothelioma in Tennessee, often with symptoms appearing decades after initial contact.

Lung cancer is another serious disease linked to asbestos exposure. In 2023, Tennessee reported an estimated 6,580 new lung cancer cases and approximately 3,700 deaths related to the disease.

Between 2017 and 2021, the age-adjusted lung cancer rate in Tennessee was 68.1 per 100,000 people, with 30,246 new cases diagnosed. The state's lung cancer incidence rate of 68.5 per 100,000 exceeds the national average of 53.6 per 100,000. Tennessee ranks 47th nationwide, placing it below the national average tier, but the state has seen a 19% improvement rate over the past five years.

Was I exposed to asbestos in Tennessee?

Select a city in tennessee-asbestos-lawyers where you or a household member worked to see the jobsites in Tennessee 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

Tennessee residents have faced increased asbestos exposure risks following natural disasters. In April 2011, an EF5 tornado struck Chattanooga and nearby areas, leaving behind large amounts of debris from homes and buildings constructed before the 1980s, when asbestos-containing materials were widely used.

Similar risks emerged after the 2010 Nashville flood, which damaged more than 11,000 properties. Many older buildings contained asbestos, prompting warnings from the Nashville Mayor's Office to use caution during cleanup and to hire professionals for safe asbestos removal. In one North Nashville church, cleanup efforts were halted after members experienced breathing problems and asbestos was discovered.

In addition to asbestos exposure, smoking significantly increases the risk of lung cancer among Tennessee residents and workers.

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Cities in Tennessee with Asbestos

There are 237 cities in Tennessee that are covered by Asbestos Trust Funds

High-Risk Tennessee Occupations With Asbestos Exposure

Workers in Tennessee have faced a strong likelihood of occupational asbestos exposure, particularly in industries that relied heavily on heat-resistant and insulating materials.

Automotive Workers

Automotive workers in Tennessee were exposed to asbestos through vehicle parts such as brakes, clutches, and insulation materials. Facilities including the Ford glass plant in Nashville, the Firestone plant in Memphis, and the Hoover Ball Bearing Company used asbestos-containing components, putting workers at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses years later.

Power Plant Workers

Beginning in the 1930s, the Tennessee Valley Authority built and operated large power plants using coal, gas, nuclear energy, hydroelectric dams, and wind power. Asbestos was widely used for insulation and construction, exposing workers involved in building, maintenance, and repairs. Other electric companies across the state also relied on asbestos-containing materials.

Veterans

Many Tennessee veterans, particularly those associated with the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge during the 1930s and 1940s, were exposed to asbestos while working in military and civilian facilities. While radiation was a primary concern at the time, asbestos exposure often went unrecognized, leading to serious health conditions later in life.

Paper mill workers, including lumberjacks, pulpers, and mill operators, were also at risk. Facilities such as Evergreen Packaging in Memphis and mills in Counce, Chattanooga, Kingsport, and Calhoun used asbestos during production processes.

Notable Asbestos Lawsuits in Tennessee

Joyce Stockton vs. Ford Motor Company

In 2015, a jury awarded $4.6 million to Joyce and Ronnie Stockton after Joyce developed mesothelioma from secondhand asbestos exposure. The exposure occurred through contact with her husband's work clothes, which were contaminated while he worked as an auto mechanic handling asbestos-containing Ford automobile parts.

Marian Jackson vs. Combustion Engineering

In 2009, a Hamilton County jury awarded $1.4 million to Marian Jackson in a wrongful death lawsuit. The case determined that her husband's mesothelioma resulted from asbestos exposure while working as a pipefitter for Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga.

Asbestos Exposure by State

Recognition Received