Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Maryland
Maryland's industrial and military history created one of the most significant asbestos exposure environments on the East Coast. The state's economy was built on steel production, shipbuilding, military operations, and power generation — industries where asbestos was used extensively for decades. At the center of Maryland's asbestos story is Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point facility in Baltimore, which was one of the largest steel mills in the world and employed over 30,000 workers at its peak. The Sparrows Point complex included both steel manufacturing and shipbuilding operations, creating multiple pathways for asbestos exposure within a single massive industrial site.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, Maryland's combination of heavy industry centered in Baltimore and one of the nation's highest concentrations of military installations created extensive asbestos exposure that affected workers across the state. Workers who built, maintained, and operated these facilities inhaled microscopic asbestos fibers daily, often without any protective equipment or warning about the health consequences.
The peak period of asbestos use in Maryland industry spanned from the 1940s through the early 1980s. During World War II, Baltimore's shipyards and Sparrows Point operated around the clock to build and repair ships, manufacture steel plate, and support the war effort. After the war, the steel industry continued to use asbestos in furnace insulation, pipe coverings, and facility construction, while Maryland's military installations expanded with Cold War-era construction that used asbestos-containing building materials extensively.
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 workers exposed at Sparrows Point, Baltimore shipyards, and Maryland military bases during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are being diagnosed now. A steelworker who handled asbestos-insulated equipment at Sparrows Point in 1970 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later.
The multi-decade employment pattern at Sparrows Point and other Maryland facilities also means workers accumulated years of cumulative exposure. Bethlehem Steel was the economic anchor of the Baltimore area, and many families had multiple generations working at the plant, deepening exposure histories across entire communities.
Maryland's Asbestos Legacy by the Numbers
Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point complex covered over 3,100 acres and at its peak was the largest steel mill in the world. Baltimore's shipyards built and repaired hundreds of vessels during WWII and the postwar era. Maryland hosts Aberdeen Proving Ground, Fort Meade, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Andrews Air Force Base, and numerous other military installations — all constructed with asbestos-containing materials. If you worked at any of these facilities, documenting your asbestos exposure history is a critical first step.
