Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Florida
Florida's mesothelioma burden is driven by two distinct but overlapping factors. First, the state has its own extensive asbestos exposure history rooted in naval installations, shipyards, aerospace operations, phosphate mining, and power generation. Second, Florida is the top retirement destination in the country, and many retirees who move to Florida from industrial states carry asbestos exposure histories from decades of work at shipyards, refineries, factories, and military installations elsewhere.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of mesothelioma deaths annually. This is not solely because of in-state asbestos exposure — it reflects the convergence of local industrial exposure and the migration of exposed workers from across the nation who retire to Florida and are diagnosed with mesothelioma years or decades later.
Within Florida, the state's naval and military installations are the most significant sources of asbestos exposure. Naval Station Jacksonville is the third-largest naval base in the United States, and NAS Pensacola is one of the oldest naval air stations in the country. Both facilities, along with shipyards in Jacksonville and the Naval Air Warfare Center, used asbestos extensively in ships, aircraft, buildings, and infrastructure. The Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral used asbestos in heat shielding, facility insulation, and launch infrastructure. Florida's phosphate mining industry — concentrated in the central part of the state — and FPL's power generating stations added further exposure sources.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period
Mesothelioma does not appear immediately after asbestos exposure. The disease has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, meaning both Florida workers exposed at local installations and retirees who were exposed in other states decades ago are being diagnosed now. A shipyard worker at Jacksonville's naval facilities in the 1970s, or a refinery worker from New Jersey who retired to Tampa in 2005, may both receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later.
Florida's Unique Mesothelioma Profile
Florida's role as both an industrial state and the nation's primary retirement destination creates a unique mesothelioma landscape. The state has significant in-state exposure from naval bases, shipyards, aerospace, mining, and power plants, combined with a large population of retirees who were exposed to asbestos at industrial jobs in states like New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Texas before moving to Florida. Regardless of where the exposure occurred, Florida residents diagnosed with mesothelioma have legal options. If you live in Florida and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, documenting your complete asbestos exposure history — including all jobs in every state — is a critical first step.
