Georgia Mesothelioma Data: 4,172 Asbestos Deaths and 74 Exposure Sites

Georgia’s asbestos legacy is rooted in three industries that defined the state’s economy for most of the 20th century: shipbuilding in Savannah, paper manufacturing, and heavy industry across Atlanta and Augusta. More than 4,172 people have died from asbestos-related diseases in the state, and new diagnoses continue as the 20 to 60-year latency period plays out for workers exposed in the 1960s through 1980s.

Georgia’s two-year statute of limitations is among the shortest in the country, making early legal consultation critical for anyone receiving a diagnosis.

State Rankings

For a full comparison of all 50 states, see our mesothelioma rates by state rankings.

County-Level Data

Gwinnett County’s position as the hardest-hit county in metro Atlanta reflects the concentration of manufacturing and construction activity in the suburban industrial corridor during the post-war building boom. Workers who built and maintained commercial and industrial facilities in the rapidly growing suburbs handled asbestos-containing materials throughout their careers.

Chatham County, home to Savannah, carries a distinct exposure profile driven by the port’s shipyard and maritime industry. Shipyard workers faced some of the most concentrated asbestos exposure of any occupation, and the Savannah yards operated continuously through the decades when asbestos use was at its peak. The same shipyard exposure dynamic drove elevated rates at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, the Hunters Point and Long Beach yards in California, and the Jacksonville yards in Florida.

Where Exposure Happened

Georgia’s asbestos burden traces to three primary sectors.

Shipyards

Savannah’s port and shipyard operations were a major source of asbestos exposure. Workers who built, repaired, and maintained naval and commercial vessels handled asbestos insulation, pipe covering, fireproofing, and boiler lagging in enclosed below-deck environments where fiber concentrations were highest.

Paper Mills

Georgia’s paper and pulp industry, concentrated in the southern and central parts of the state, used asbestos in paper machine components, steam pipe insulation, gaskets, and brake systems. Workers in mills across Macon, Savannah, and Augusta were exposed throughout their shifts.

Manufacturing and Construction

Atlanta’s rapid growth during the 20th century created thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs where asbestos was standard. Insulation, fireproofing, floor tile, roofing, and pipe covering in commercial buildings all contained asbestos. Workers in the construction trades, along with maintenance and demolition crews, faced chronic exposure.

Who Is Most at Risk

• Shipyard workers at Savannah port facilities and repair yards
• Paper mill workers across the southern and central Georgia corridor, facing exposure conditions similar to those in Wisconsin’s Fox Valley mills
• Pipefitters and insulators in manufacturing and commercial construction, one of the highest-risk occupational groups nationally
• Construction tradespeople working in pre-1980 commercial and public buildings
• Military personnel stationed at Georgia installations including Fort Stewart and Fort Benning, who face elevated risk across all service branches
• Power plant workers at coal-fired generating stations statewide

Legal Landscape

For an overview of all current treatment options, see the 2026 mesothelioma treatment landscape. Georgia’s asbestos trust fund claims are relevant across all of the state’s major exposure industries. The manufacturers who supplied asbestos-containing products to Georgia shipyards, paper mills, and construction projects have established bankruptcy trusts that still accept claims.

Verdicts and settlements in Georgia reflect the state’s industrial profile, with cases against manufacturers like Georgia-Pacific and 3M producing verdicts as high as $17 million.