Highest Rate in the Nation: Wisconsin Mesothelioma by the Numbers

Wisconsin holds a distinction no state wants: the highest per capita mesothelioma rate in the country. At 1.24 per 100,000 residents in 2022, the state exceeds Pennsylvania (1.22), Minnesota (1.20), and every other state in the nation. The national average is 0.6.

The reason is the paper industry. Wisconsin’s Fox River Valley was the papermaking capital of the United States for most of the 20th century, and paper mills used asbestos extensively in machine felt, insulation, gaskets, and brake systems. The workers who built that industry are now receiving diagnoses 30 to 50 years after their last shift.

State Rankings

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

County-Level Data

Milwaukee County alone accounts for more asbestos-related deaths than many entire states. The county’s 851 deaths between 1999 and 2017 reflect a century of heavy manufacturing, shipbuilding on Lake Michigan, and industrial construction where asbestos was standard. Among Midwest industrial states, only Ohio and Michigan record higher total case volumes, though neither matches Wisconsin’s per capita rate.

The Brown County and Fox Valley corridor (Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet counties) reflects the paper mill concentration. These smaller counties have outsized mesothelioma rates because the paper industry was the dominant employer and asbestos was embedded in the production process.

Where Exposure Happened

Wisconsin’s asbestos burden traces to three primary sectors.

Paper mills in the Fox River Valley

The Fox River Valley, stretching from Green Bay through Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, and Kaukauna, contained the largest concentration of paper mills in the country. Asbestos was used in paper machine felt, dryer rolls, insulation on steam pipes, gaskets, and brake systems on heavy equipment. Workers who maintained and operated these machines inhaled fibers throughout their careers.

Milwaukee manufacturing and foundries

Milwaukee’s manufacturing sector used asbestos across automotive parts production, machinery manufacturing, and foundry operations. The city’s industrial base employed hundreds of thousands of workers in facilities where asbestos insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing were standard.

Lake Michigan shipbuilding

Lake Michigan shipyards in Manitowoc, Sturgeon Bay, and Milwaukee built naval vessels and commercial ships throughout the 20th century. Shipbuilding was one of the most asbestos-intensive industries, with the material used in insulation, pipe covering, fireproofing, and boiler rooms. Similar shipyard exposure patterns played out at facilities along the Great Lakes coast in Michigan, the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, and Jacksonville and Tampa in Florida.

Who Is Most at Risk

• Paper mill workers across the Fox River Valley and statewide
• Millwrights and maintenance crews who replaced insulation and gaskets
• Pipefitters and insulators in manufacturing and commercial construction
• Shipyard workers at Lake Michigan shipyards
• Boilermakers at power plants and industrial facilities
• Construction tradespeople working in pre-1980 commercial and public buildings

Eighty-eight percent of Wisconsin mesothelioma deaths occur in people aged 60 and older, consistent with the 20 to 60-year latency period between exposure and diagnosis. For those receiving a diagnosis today, the 2026 mesothelioma treatment landscape includes immunotherapy combinations and surgical approaches that did not exist a decade ago.

Legal Landscape

For an overview of all current treatment options, see the 2026 mesothelioma treatment landscape. Wisconsin’s asbestos trust fund claims are particularly relevant for paper mill workers, who were exposed to products from multiple manufacturers throughout their careers. The companies that manufactured asbestos-containing paper machine components, insulation, and gaskets have established bankruptcy trusts that still accept claims.

Verdicts and settlements in Wisconsin reflect the state’s industrial profile, with cases tied to paper mills, manufacturing facilities, and shipyard exposure.