A new study published in JCO Public Oncology dug deep into statistical trends in mesothelioma incidence and mortality from 1990-2023, finding that while progress is uneven, mesothelioma rates have generally declined over the past few decades.
Researchers from the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center examined mesothelioma data at both the national and state level, tracking mesothelioma rates across many different subsets of Americans. And although the wider trend is more positive, they found a number of factors showing this movement is not a straight line.
Notably, for those that suffer from this rare and aggressive cancer, the burden of the disease is still high, and some specific regions of the country still suffer from higher rates of mesothelioma. This only further underlines the need for greater awareness and better treatments of the deadly disease.
Why Mesothelioma Rates Have Fallen
Mesothelioma is linked to exposure to the natural mineral known as asbestos, which for a number of decades was commonly used in construction and insulation across the United States. Breathing in asbestos’ sharp fibers can eventually lead to the development of mesothelioma, and is the only known cause of this rare but particularly deadly form of cancer.
The adverse health effects of asbestos exposure became more widely known over the course of the 1970s, and strict regulations included in the United States’ Clean Air Act and other industrial standards have led to a radical decrease in asbestos consumption over the last several decades.
As such, this overall decrease in asbestos consumption has led to declining overall rates of mesothelioma nationwide. However, mesothelioma is a cancer that often takes decades to show itself after asbestos exposure, and as such more elderly populations have continued to be diagnosed with mesothelioma at higher rates.
Aside from that, mesothelioma cases linked to asbestos-contaminated talc-based products, such as Johnson & Johnson baby powder, have ensured that mesothelioma is still a major public health challenge.
Demographic Data on Mesothelioma
The Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s study found that despite falling overall incidence rates, the number of mesothelioma deaths and disability have actually risen, due to population growth and aging.
The study noted that 96% of mesothelioma deaths are linked to occupational exposure. Among the four states with the highest rates of mesothelioma diagnosis in 2023, Maine and Washington have long histories of shipbuilding, and industry commonly linked to asbestos exposure, as does Minnesota with taconite iron ore mining. The fourth, Alaska, has a large amount of naturally occurring asbestos in the soil which can be disturbed during construction projects.
The study also found notable differences between men and women in a number of states: in many places, as male mesothelioma rates declined, female rates actually rose. This suggests that other factors, including asbestos-contaminated cosmetic products and other types of exposure, continue to drive mesothelioma development in women.
What This Means for the Future of Mesothelioma
It has been decades since asbestos was commonly used in construction in the United States, but mesothelioma is not going away. Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that can still be found in a variety of places, and the United States has never fully banned its use.
And notably, while some notable advancements have been made in the cancer’s treatment, mesothelioma remains a very deadly disease. The study found that over the course of the 33 years they examined, survival rates have not significantly improved.
Although the overall decline in mesothelioma cases and asbestos exposure is a very positive trend, the fight is far from over. Vigilance and awareness of this disease is still highly important, and the continued development of new and improved therapies is still greatly needed.
Sources & Author
- Geographic, Temporal, and Sex-Specific Trends in Mesothelioma Burden in the United States, 1990–2023. JCO Global Oncology. Retrieved from: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/GO-26-00056. Accessed: 06/16/2026.
