Illinois is one of the most heavily impacted states in the country for asbestos-related disease. The combination of steel production, heavy manufacturing, railroad infrastructure, and vermiculite processing created exposure pathways that reached tens of thousands of workers across the Chicago metropolitan area and downstate industrial corridors.
The state’s 670 documented exposure sites are the most of any state in the country. The toll, measured in cases, deaths, and families still receiving diagnoses decades after exposure, places Illinois consistently in the top tier of states for mesothelioma burden.
State Rankings
| Metric | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma death rate | 13.39 per million | ~10 per million |
| National rank (deaths) | 6th | — |
| Documented exposure sites | 670 | ~4,500 total |
| Annual asbestos-related deaths | ~600 | ~3,000 |
| Statute of limitations (PI) | 2 years from diagnosis | Varies by state |
| Statute of limitations (WD) | 2 years from death | Varies by state |
Where Exposure Happened
Illinois’s asbestos burden traces to three primary industrial sectors that defined the state’s economy through the 20th century.
Steel and Metal Production
Chicago’s Southeast Side was one of the largest steelmaking corridors in the world. U.S. Steel South Works operated from 1882 to 1992 on the Calumet River, employing hundreds of thousands of workers over its 110-year history. Wisconsin Steel, Republic Steel (later LTV Steel), and dozens of smaller foundries and fabrication shops surrounded it. The pattern mirrors what happened in Ohio’s Rust Belt and Indiana’s Gary steel corridor, where the same companies used the same asbestos products.
Inside these mills, asbestos insulated blast furnaces, ladles, pipes, and electrical systems. Workers who handled, maintained, or worked near insulated equipment inhaled fibers daily. The exposure was most acute for insulators, pipefitters, millwrights, and maintenance crews, but production workers in adjacent areas were also exposed.
Vermiculite Processing
Illinois processed more than 372,000 tons of contaminated vermiculite from the Libby, Montana mine, one of the largest volumes of any state. A single Chicago facility handled 273,000 tons. Additional processing sites operated in Girard, Peoria, Quincy, Buda, and Calumet City.
Vermiculite from the Libby mine was contaminated with tremolite asbestos. Workers who processed it into attic insulation, potting soil additives, and construction materials breathed fiber-laden dust throughout their shifts. Community exposure extended to residents living near processing facilities.
Railroad and Manufacturing
Chicago was the nation’s railroad hub, and railcar maintenance, locomotive repair, and freight handling all involved asbestos-containing components. The B&O Railroad, Chicago and Northwestern Railway, and dozens of other lines operated repair facilities across the region.
Manufacturing plants producing boilers, gaskets, electrical components, and automotive parts also used asbestos extensively. These worksites, combined with the construction trades, created a broad, overlapping web of exposure that touched workers across nearly every industrial sector.
County-Level Data
| County | Key Industries | Notable Sites |
|---|---|---|
| Cook | Steel, manufacturing, railroads, vermiculite | U.S. Steel South Works, Chicago vermiculite plant |
| Lake | Manufacturing, construction, naval training | Great Lakes Naval Station, Abbott Labs |
| DuPage | Manufacturing, construction | Industrial corridors along I-88 |
| Madison | Oil refining, steel | Granite City steel mills, Wood River refineries |
| St. Clair | Manufacturing, railroad | East St. Louis industrial zone |
Cook County alone accounts for a disproportionate share of the state’s cases, reflecting the concentration of heavy industry in the Chicago metropolitan area. Lake and Rock Island counties have also been identified among the top 20 counties nationally for mesothelioma rates.
Who Is Most at Risk
The occupations with the highest exposure in Illinois mirror the state’s industrial profile:
- Steelworkers at South Works, Wisconsin Steel, Republic Steel, and smaller mills
- Pipefitters and insulators across industrial and commercial construction
- Railroad workers in maintenance yards and locomotive shops
- Boilermakers at power plants and industrial facilities
- Vermiculite processors at Libby-connected facilities
- Construction tradespeople working in pre-1980 buildings
- Factory workers at automotive, chemical, and electrical manufacturing plants
Secondary exposure also affects families. Workers carried asbestos fibers home on clothing, exposing spouses and children to the same material that caused their own disease. The Virginia Supreme Court’s 2026 ruling established that employers owe a duty of care to workers’ family members in these situations. Several recent Cook County verdicts have specifically addressed take-home exposure cases, including a $30 million award for secondhand asbestos exposure from a factory worker’s clothing.
Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, running from the date of diagnosis. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of death. These are among the shorter filing windows in the Midwest. Families should consult an attorney early to preserve their options.
Legal Landscape
Cook County has emerged as one of the most active jurisdictions for mesothelioma litigation in the country. Recent verdicts include a $40.75 million award against John Crane for gasket exposure, a $45 million verdict against Johnson and Johnson for talc-related mesothelioma, and a $30 million verdict for take-home exposure from a Bridgestone Firestone facility.
Illinois law allows claims against both solvent companies and bankrupt defendants through asbestos trust funds. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can identify all applicable trusts based on a worker’s employment history and the products used at their specific jobsites. For families navigating these options, the treatment landscape is also evolving, with five-year immunotherapy survival data now available from the CheckMate-743 trial.
How many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in Illinois each year?▼
Illinois consistently ranks among the top 10 states for mesothelioma cases. Between 2016 and 2020, the state recorded approximately 625 cases and 487 deaths. The annual burden is approximately 100 to 125 new diagnoses.
What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in Illinois?▼
Illinois has a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, starting from the date of mesothelioma diagnosis. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death.
Which Illinois counties have the most mesothelioma cases?▼
Cook County leads the state by a significant margin, followed by Lake, DuPage, Madison, and St. Clair counties. Cook County’s concentration of steel mills, manufacturing plants, and vermiculite processing facilities drives most of the state’s cases.
Why does Illinois rank so high for mesothelioma?▼
Illinois was a center of heavy industry throughout the 20th century. Steel production (especially on Chicago’s Southeast Side), railroad operations, manufacturing, and the processing of 372,000 tons of contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana created extensive exposure pathways for workers across the state.
Can family members of Illinois workers file claims?▼
Yes. Illinois courts have recognized take-home exposure claims, where family members developed mesothelioma from asbestos fibers carried home on workers’ clothing. Recent Cook County verdicts of $30 million and more have specifically addressed secondary exposure cases.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC USCS Mesothelioma Report.
https://www.cdc.gov/united-states-cancer-statistics/publications/mesothelioma.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER Mortality Database.
https://wonder.cdc.gov/
Didier et al. 2025, PMC. Mesothelioma Mortality Trends in the United States.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12005915/
ATSDR. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Libby Vermiculite.
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/sites/national_map/