A new study published in June 2026 in JCO Global Oncology titled “Geographic, Temporal, and Sex-Specific Trends in Mesothelioma Burden in the United States, 1990–2023,” offers the most detailed picture in years of how this asbestos-caused cancer is affecting Americans, where it is striking hardest, and who is most at risk today.
The headline finding is mixed. Nationally, age-standardized incidence and mortality have both declined by roughly a third since 1990 — a long-delayed echo of the asbestos regulations that began in the 1970s. But the actual number of Americans diagnosed and dying from mesothelioma each year has gone up, not down, as the population has grown and aged. And critically, the chance of dying from mesothelioma once you are diagnosed has not improved. The study’s mortality-to-incidence ratio (a population-level proxy for survival) actually rose slightly over three decades, signaling that even with new immunotherapies, this disease remains nearly as lethal as it was a generation ago. Occupational asbestos exposure still accounts for roughly 96% of mesothelioma deaths in the United States.
Geographic Highs and Shifting Demographics: Who Is Most at Risk Today
The study’s state-level analysis shows that national averages hide major regional differences. Maine, Alaska, Washington, and Minnesota carry the highest mesothelioma burden in the country, reflecting their histories of shipbuilding, naval work, taconite iron mining, and naturally occurring asbestos. Louisiana now has the highest female mesothelioma burden in the nation, nearly 55% above the national average.
Perhaps the most striking finding is what is happening to women. While mesothelioma rates among American men have fallen sharply, female rates have barely moved and in 20 states, female incidence has actually increased. The largest rises are in South Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia. The researchers point to several reasons women are increasingly affected, including secondhand exposure from spouses or parents who worked with asbestos (which can raise a woman’s mesothelioma risk up to tenfold), environmental exposure in places with naturally occurring asbestos, and asbestos contamination in older school buildings, where a predominantly female teaching workforce was historically exposed.
The Talc Connection
Among the nonoccupational pathways the study highlights, cosmetic talc deserves particular attention. The authors note that talc and asbestos occur together geologically, and that some cosmetic talc products (including widely sold baby powders and facial powders) have been shown to contain asbestos fibers. The study cites peer-reviewed case series documenting mesothelioma in women whose only known exposure came from repeated use of cosmetic, asbestos-containing talcum powder, and it acknowledges that this represents an additional pathway by which women are exposed to asbestos.
The article is candid that the scientific literature on talc-and-mesothelioma is contested, with some industry-funded analyses disputing the link. But the underlying facts are not in serious dispute: talc and asbestos form together in the ground, asbestos has been documented in commercial talc products, and women diagnosed with mesothelioma whose only exposure history points to cosmetic talc are a real and growing population. For women without occupational or household asbestos exposure, cosmetic talc is one of the exposure pathways that needs to be carefully investigated.
Why This Matters: The Long Shadow of Asbestos Exposure
Three takeaways stand out:
- Mesothelioma is not a disease of the past. Thousands of Americans are still being diagnosed every year, and the absolute numbers are going up.
- Women, and particularly women without an obvious occupational history, are an increasingly important part of the picture.
- The asbestos industry’s long shadow continues to fall on workers, their families, and consumers — because asbestos has never been fully banned in the United States, and legacy asbestos remains in buildings, products, and infrastructure across the country.
A Perspective From Our Asbestos Litigation Team: Shifting Risks and Legal Realities
Darron E. Berquist, Managing Attorney of The Lanier Law Firm’s Asbestos Litigation Team, offers the following observations on what this study means for patients and families:
“The rising burden among women is one of the most important findings in this research. We see it in our own practice. Women with no shipyard, no foundry, no construction site in their history are being diagnosed with mesothelioma — and their exposures often come from a spouse’s work clothes, from older school buildings, or from cosmetic talc products used for years without warning.”
“The talc pathway deserves special attention. Talc and asbestos form together in the earth, and asbestos has repeatedly been found in commercial cosmetic talc. Independent researchers have documented mesothelioma in women whose only known exposure was the talcum powder on a bathroom shelf. The companies that sold those products knew about contamination risks for a very long time. Holding them accountable is central to our cosmetic talc litigation.”
This article summarizes findings from a population-level epidemiology study. Individual diagnoses, exposures, and legal claims vary, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Medical decisions should be made with a qualified physician; for case-specific legal questions, please contact our office.
Talk to a Dedicated Mesothelioma Attorney from Our Firm Today
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, whether from workplace asbestos, secondhand exposure, environmental contamination, or cosmetic talc, you may be entitled to significant compensation from the companies responsible.
The Lanier Law Firm’s mesothelioma legal team has decades of experience investigating exposure histories and holding asbestos and talc defendants accountable. We charge no fees unless we win. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.
Source
Edwards K, Jani CT, Rowley K, et al. Geographic, temporal, and sex-specific trends in mesothelioma burden in the United States, 1990–2023. JCO Global Oncol. 2026;12:e2600056. doi:10.1200/GO-26-00056