New Jersey’s mesothelioma burden reflects more than a century of industrial asbestos use along the Hudson, the Raritan, and the Delaware. The state’s age-adjusted incidence rate of 1.0 per 100,000 sits above the national average of roughly 0.6 to 0.8 per 100,000, driven by shipyards, refineries, and asbestos product manufacturing that ran from World War I through the late twentieth century.
The 114 new diagnoses recorded in 2021 are consistent with the state’s long-running pattern. Between 1999 and 2017, CDC WONDER recorded 2,037 mesothelioma deaths in New Jersey, part of an estimated 11,367 total asbestos-related deaths that rank the state 8th nationally over the same period.
State Rankings
For a full comparison of all 50 states, see our mesothelioma rates by state rankings.
| Metric | New Jersey | National |
|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma rate (per 100K) | 1.0 (above average) | 0.6 to 0.8 |
| New diagnoses (2021) | 114 | ~3,000 annually |
| Mesothelioma deaths (1999-2017) | 2,037 | ~45,000 |
| Total asbestos-related deaths (1999-2017) | 11,367 (8th highest) | Varies by state |
| Statute of limitations (personal injury) | 2 years from diagnosis | Varies by state |
| Primary litigation venue | Middlesex County (MCL) | Varies by state |
Where Exposure Happened
New Jersey’s asbestos exposure sites cluster around four industrial sectors: shipbuilding along the Hudson, petroleum refining along the Arthur Kill, asbestos product manufacturing in Somerset County, and heavy industrial construction statewide.
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock in Kearny
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock in Kearny was one of the largest East Coast shipyards during and after World War II. Its boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, and oil coolers all used asbestos insulation. Thousands of shipfitters, pipefitters, welders, and electricians cycled through the yard during wartime construction and postwar repair work. That exposure pattern mirrors the Brooklyn Navy Yard across the river in New York and the Philadelphia Navy Yard downstream on the Delaware.
The Johns-Manville Plant in Manville
The Johns-Manville plant in Manville, New Jersey manufactured asbestos insulation, pipe covering, brake linings, and asbestos cement from the early twentieth century onward. The town took its name from the company. Plant workers, their families, and residents living nearby faced both occupational and take-home exposure for decades before the company’s 1982 bankruptcy.
Exxon Bayway Refinery in Linden
The Exxon Bayway refinery in Linden has been in operation since 1909. Asbestos insulation was used throughout the facility on pipes, valves, and high-heat equipment. A 1981 NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation was conducted at Bayway after five asbestos-related cases were identified among refinery workers, documenting the presence of asbestos-containing insulation in multiple process units.
The Asbestos Dump Superfund Site in Millington
The Asbestos Dump Superfund site in Millington, Morris County was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List in 1983. Asbestos Ltd. operated the site from 1927 through 1975, with National Gypsum conducting waste disposal operations there from 1970 to 1975. The site is one of several federal cleanup locations in New Jersey tied to historical asbestos product manufacturing and disposal.
Who Is Most at Risk
- Shipyard workers at Federal Shipbuilding in Kearny and related East Coast yards
- Refinery workers at Bayway, Paulsboro, and other Arthur Kill and Delaware River facilities
- Plant workers and residents near the Johns-Manville facility in Manville
- Pipefitters, insulators, and boilermakers across industrial and commercial construction
- Construction tradespeople working in pre-1980 buildings statewide
- Family members of workers who carried asbestos dust home on clothing
Because mesothelioma has a 20 to 60 year latency, most people diagnosed today were exposed between the 1950s and the 1980s. High-risk occupations continue to account for a disproportionate share of cases. See our guide to mesothelioma risk by occupation.
New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims, running from diagnosis or reasonable discovery under N.J. Stat. Section 2A:14-2. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death under N.J. Stat. Section 2A:31-3.
How New Jersey Handles Asbestos Cases
New Jersey concentrates its asbestos litigation in Middlesex County through the state’s Multicounty Litigation program. The New Jersey Courts publish a statewide asbestos trial list, and most filings are assigned to Middlesex County Superior Court regardless of where the exposure occurred.
That centralized docket shapes how New Jersey cases are tried. Judges are experienced with asbestos issues, motion practice is predictable, and trials are scheduled on a coordinated calendar. For a closer look at outcomes, see New Jersey mesothelioma verdicts and settlements and New Jersey asbestos trust funds.
For comparison with neighboring industrial states, see Pennsylvania mesothelioma statistics and New York mesothelioma statistics. For an overview of current treatment options, see the 2026 mesothelioma treatment landscape.
How does New Jersey's mesothelioma rate compare to the national average?▼
New Jersey’s age-adjusted mesothelioma incidence rate is 1.0 per 100,000, above the U.S. national average of roughly 0.6 to 0.8 per 100,000. The elevated rate reflects the state’s long history of shipbuilding, petroleum refining, and asbestos product manufacturing.
What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in New Jersey?▼
New Jersey has a two-year statute of limitations for asbestos personal injury claims, running from the date of diagnosis or reasonable discovery under N.J. Stat. Section 2A:14-2. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death under N.J. Stat. Section 2A:31-3.
Where are New Jersey asbestos cases filed?▼
Most New Jersey asbestos cases are handled through the Multicounty Litigation program in Middlesex County Superior Court. The New Jersey Courts publish a statewide trial list covering asbestos cases filed across the state.
Why is New Jersey's asbestos burden so concentrated in certain places?▼
Kearny, Manville, Linden, and the Morris County cleanup sites each anchor a distinct exposure pathway: shipbuilding, asbestos product manufacturing, petroleum refining, and industrial dumping. These sectors operated for decades, often overlapping in the same worker populations.
Are mesothelioma cases still being diagnosed in New Jersey?▼
Yes. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 60 years, people exposed in the 1950s through the 1980s are still receiving diagnoses. The 114 new cases recorded in 2021 reflect exposures that often occurred decades earlier.
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/
Asbestos Nation. New Jersey Asbestos-Related Deaths.
https://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/nj/
NIOSH. NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation, Exxon Bayway Refinery.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/81-372-1727.pdf
New Jersey Courts. New Jersey Courts Asbestos Multicounty Litigation.
https://www.njcourts.gov/multicounty-litigation/asbestos/case-information