Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Due to Asbestos Exposure in West Virginia (WV)

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Prevalence in West Virginia

Prolonged and repeated exposure to asbestos significantly increases the risk of developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer that forms on the outer lining of internal organs. According to CDC statistics, the age-adjusted rate of mesothelioma in West Virginia between 2017 and 2021 was 1.0 per 100,000 people, with 129 new cases reported.

Asbestos exposure also elevates the risk of lung cancer. In 2023, West Virginia recorded an estimated 2,170 new lung cancer cases, with approximately 1,290 deaths attributed to the disease.

West Virginia continues to experience lung cancer rates significantly higher than the national average, reflecting decades of industrial asbestos exposure.

Between 2017 and 2021, the state's age-adjusted lung cancer rate was 76.1 per 100,000 people, totaling 10,335 new cases. In 2024, the American Lung Cancer Association reported a new lung cancer rate of 76.5, far exceeding the national average of 53.6. West Virginia ranks 49th in the United States for lung cancer incidence, placing it among the most affected states.

Contributing Factors

West Virginia contains numerous asbestos-bearing mines and deposits, placing miners�especially coal miners�at heightened risk. Additional at-risk occupations include steelworkers, loggers, construction workers, demolition crews, and electricians.

Workers in power plants, manufacturing facilities, and oil refineries across the state were also routinely exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

One of the most significant asbestos-related health risks involved Camp Lejeune, where water contamination between August 1953 and December 1987 exposed individuals to hazardous chemicals.

Smoking further increases the likelihood of developing lung cancer in individuals exposed to asbestos.