Asbestos Exposure in New York (NY)

Many workers at New York’s shipyards, powerhouses, plants, and construction sites have fallen victim to asbestos exposure. These workers were never told of the dangers related to asbestos exposure, nor were they given the proper respiratory equipment to help protect them against the dangers of breathing the dust and fibers produced when working with asbestos.

Exposure to asbestos is the direct cause of multiple diseases - with mesothelioma perhaps the most tragic. Tens of thousands of individuals, especially working men and woman, have died from Mesothelioma in just the last couple of decades and there are 2000 - 3000 new diagnoses every year of this cruel disease.

Because asbestos was a common mineral used in industrial production, the tragedy of mesothelioma is truly a national one. However, New York State has been amongst the hardest hit areas regarding the number of mesothelioma victims. The wide variety of human and natural resources in New York State has encouraged companies to locate their businesses here throughout our country’s history. Not only are there a great number of workers in New York, there are a great number of patriots as well: New York boasts over 1.4 million veterans – more than 47 other states. The state of New York has offered incalculable value and undeniable service to the success of businesses and to the U.S. military. It is heartbreaking then that New York has the third highest number of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure related deaths in our nation.

New York Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure Facts

• According to government statistics, the NY counties with the highest incidence of asbestos exposure related deaths include:
  – Queens County, NY
  – Nassau County, NY
  – Suffolk County, NY
  – Erie County, NY
  – Kings County, NY
  – Westchester County, NY
  – Monroe County, NY
  – New YorkCounty, NY
  – Bronx County, NY
  – Niagara County, NY
  – Onondaga County, NY
• Each of these counties are also in the Top 100 counties nationwide for asbestos related deaths.
• See a chart ranking the counties in New York based on asbestos deaths.
• The Federal Government has listed a site in New York on its priority list of asbestos contaminated sites. At least 1,439 shipments (116,277 tons) of vermiculite went from Libby, MT to locations across New York from 1948 through 1993.
• Government statistics on deaths due to asbestos-related diseases in New York (information based on government statistics, compiled by the EWG Action Fund):