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Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Florida

Florida's best-documented asbestos source is vermiculite processing in Tampa, where federal agencies studied two plants. Florida also has its own asbestos claims law and recently shortened its negligence deadline. This page covers both, plus where to find care.

Last reviewed October 28, 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this page.

In short

  • Documented sources: Vermiculite processing in Tampa.
  • Deadlines: personal injury 2 years (Fla. Stat. 95.11(4)(a)); wrongful death 2 years (Fla. Stat. 95.11(4)(e)).
  • Care: 3 NCI-designated centers in the state, and 6 VA health care systems.
  • Confirm every deadline with a lawyer licensed in the state.

Documented asbestos exposure in Florida

We list only sites where asbestos is documented by a government agency or published research. Many other workplaces in Florida likely used asbestos-containing insulation and equipment, but we do not name a site unless we can point to a record.

Vermiculite processing in Tampa

Vermiculite mined at Libby, Montana, was contaminated with asbestos. The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) studied 28 sites around the country that processed it. One was the Zonolite Company, later W.R. Grace, plant in Tampa, which processed Libby vermiculite from the 1950s to 1991 with an estimated 2 to 10 employees at a time; invoices show roughly 112,000 tons received. Separately, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated the Verlite Company in Tampa, one of the active vermiculite facilities it studied at the request of OSHA.

Florida filing deadlines

Claim Deadline Statute
Personal injury 2 years Fla. Stat. 95.11(4)(a)
Wrongful death 2 years Fla. Stat. 95.11(4)(e)

Florida's deadline for negligence claims, including most injury cases, is two years (Fla. Stat. 95.11(4)(a)), and wrongful death is also two years (95.11(4)(e)). The negligence period was shortened in 2023, so a claim that arose earlier may follow the older rule. Florida also has asbestos-specific rules, including medical criteria and a statute of limitations provision, in Chapter 774, Part II.

Also note: The negligence period was shortened in 2023; claims that arose earlier may follow the older rule. Florida also has asbestos-specific rules in Chapter 774, Part II.

Deadlines and discovery rules change and depend on the facts. Confirm them with a lawyer licensed in Florida. Compare other states in our national table.

Treatment in Florida

NCI lists 3 designated cancer centers in Florida that see patients:

Center (NCI profile) Institution and location, as NCI lists it NCI designation
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Miami, Florida Clinical
Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa, Florida Comprehensive
University of Florida Health Cancer Institute University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Clinical

NCI's listing for Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, which is under Arizona on our national list, notes that it also has facilities in Florida.

VA health care in Florida

Veterans with asbestos-related illness can get care through VA. These VA health care systems serve Florida; each system's page lists its medical centers and clinics:

For benefits, see veterans and VA benefits or our veteran claim help form.

Workers' compensation

Work-related illness may fall under Florida Division of Workers' Compensation. Each state's system has its own notice and filing deadlines. NCI notes that federal civilian employees and longshore and harbor workers have separate federal programs through the U.S. Department of Labor.

Other states

California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington. See all states.

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Common questions

Did Florida's 2023 change shorten my deadline?

It might. The two-year negligence period applies to claims that arose after the change took effect, and older claims may keep the earlier period. Asbestos claims raise questions about when a claim arises, so ask a Florida lawyer to check.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines differ by state and change; confirm anything that matters with a licensed attorney in your state. No one can promise how a claim will turn out.

Sources

  1. Summary report: exposure to asbestos-containing vermiculite from Libby, Montana, at 28 processing sites in the United States (ATSDR, 2008; copy hosted by EPA)
  2. Fla. Stat. 95.11(4)(a) (Florida official code)
  3. Fla. Stat. Chapter 774, Part II: asbestos and silica claims (Florida Legislature)
  4. Find an NCI-designated cancer center (National Cancer Institute, list updated June 10, 2026)
  5. VA health care systems serving Florida (VA.gov)
  6. Florida Division of Workers' Compensation

Related pages

  • States: State-by-state mesothelioma resources: documented asbestos exposure sites, filing deadlines, NCI-designated cancer centers, and VA health care in each state.
  • Statute of limitations: How filing deadlines for mesothelioma and asbestos claims work, when the clock starts, and a table of injury and wrongful death deadlines in every state.
  • Treatment centers: How to find a cancer center with mesothelioma experience, the full list of NCI-designated clinical and comprehensive cancer centers, and questions to ask.
  • Veterans and VA benefits: How VA disability compensation works for veterans with asbestos-related illness, the evidence VA asks for, survivor benefits, and where to get free help.