Mesothelioma tracked by location
Mesothelioma does not strike all communities evenly. The rate of the disease varies significantly by geographic location, and this variation generally can be attributed to patterns of industrial development that are equated with high rates of asbestos exposure.
For example, along the coasts, where the ship-building industry was very active around World War II, the incidence of mesothelioma has been high. Communities in North Carolina where asbestos textile mills were clustered also show high rates of mesothelioma.
Because mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, if a cluster of mesothelioma cases are found, it can be assumed that there is a source of asbestos exposure nearby. Mesothelioma rates in Libby, Montana are extremely high because the community was exposed to asbestos from the nearby W.R. Grace vermiculite mine.
In Libby, Montana, the asbestos contamination at the W.R. Grace mine was discovered because mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases began to appear unexpectedly in the community. Although W.R. Grace was aware of the presence of asbestos, it kept that information hidden.
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