Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in Pennsylvania

If your family is here, someone you love either grew up, lived, or worked in Pennsylvania during the years asbestos was everywhere — in the steel mills, the coal industry, shipyards on the Delaware, and the construction trades that built post-war Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Now you’re trying to make sense of how that history connects to a mesothelioma diagnosis decades later. The sections below cover where exposure most often happened in Pennsylvania, what treatment centers your family may want to know about, and how to navigate VA, workers’ compensation, and other claims that may be available to you.

Pennsylvania’s industrial history — steel, coal, shipbuilding, chemicals, and power generation — made it one of the most asbestos-exposed states in the country. Bethlehem Steel, U.S. Steel, the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, and dozens of power plants and refineries used asbestos products for decades. Today, Pennsylvania residents continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma at rates tied to that industrial legacy.

Where asbestos exposure happened in Pennsylvania

• Steel mills. Bethlehem Steel (Bethlehem), U.S. Steel (Pittsburgh, Clairton, Fairless Hills), Jones & Laughlin, and other mills used asbestos insulation on blast furnaces, rolling mills, coke ovens, and steam lines.
• Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Operated from the 1800s until the 1990s. Shipfitters, insulators, welders, pipefitters, and Navy personnel encountered asbestos throughout the yard’s operating life.
• Power plants. PECO, Duquesne Light, PPL, Penelec, and other utilities operated coal, nuclear, and oil power plants that used asbestos insulation through the 1970s.
• Oil refineries. Sunoco Marcus Hook, Philadelphia Energy Solutions (formerly Sunoco Philadelphia), and other refineries used asbestos products on process units and piping.
• Construction and trades. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and cities across Pennsylvania built extensively with asbestos-containing materials through the 1970s.
• Coal mining. While coal itself is not asbestos, many mining facilities used asbestos insulation on mine-mouth power plants, preparation plants, and equipment.

A note on time-sensitive considerations for Pennsylvania families

Pennsylvania has specific time limits on certain compensation claims related to mesothelioma — generally two years from diagnosis, not from exposure. The rules are complicated and depend on each family’s situation. Right now, your family’s priority should be your loved one’s care team and treatment plan. When you’re ready, a licensed Pennsylvania attorney can walk you through the time-sensitive parts of any compensation claim, and our starting-point overview of claims can help you get oriented.

Mesothelioma treatment in Pennsylvania

When your family is choosing where to seek care for your loved one, second opinions matter — especially with a rare cancer like mesothelioma. Many Pennsylvania families travel to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh for a specialist consultation, even if some treatment happens closer to home. Travel grants and lodging assistance are available through several patient-advocacy organizations.

Pennsylvania is home to several major cancer centers with mesothelioma programs, including Penn Medicine Abramson Cancer Center (NCI-designated), Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia (NCI-designated), and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh (NCI-designated). Penn’s mesothelioma program is notable for thoracic surgery volume and active clinical trial enrollment.

Pennsylvania-specific resources

• Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Workers’ Compensation
• Pennsylvania Bar Association — Public Resources
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: state-level asbestos regulatory information

Get answers about your next steps

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have questions about treatment, support, or legal options. MesoCare.org compiles information from federal health agencies and established cancer centers so families have a starting point — we are not a medical provider or a law firm. Start with these resources:

• Understanding mesothelioma — symptoms, types, diagnosis
• Treatment options — surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, clinical trials
• Support resources — financial assistance, caregiver help, mental health
• Legal information — trust funds, compensation claims, VA disability, workers’ comp

MesoCare.org is sponsored by Danziger & De Llano, LLP and is informational only. Nothing on this page is medical or legal advice. Speak with your clinical team about treatment and a licensed attorney about legal questions.