Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Georgia
Coastal Georgia is where federal researchers found that men who worked in shipyards during World War II had a higher risk of lung cancer, a finding they linked in part to asbestos. This page covers that study, Georgia's two-year deadlines, and where to find care.
Last reviewed October 28, 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this page.
In short
- Documented sources: World War II shipyards on the Georgia coast.
- Deadlines: personal injury 2 years (O.C.G.A. 9-3-33); wrongful death 2 years from death (O.C.G.A. 9-3-33, as applied by Georgia courts).
- Care: 1 NCI-designated center in the state, and 3 VA health care systems.
- Confirm every deadline with a lawyer licensed in the state.
Documented asbestos exposure in Georgia
We list only sites where asbestos is documented by a government agency or published research. Many other workplaces in Georgia likely used asbestos-containing insulation and equipment, but we do not name a site unless we can point to a record.
World War II shipyards on the Georgia coast
A National Cancer Institute case-control study, published in 1978, set out to explain the unusually high lung cancer rate among men living in coastal Georgia. It found a significantly increased risk tied to employment in area shipyards during World War II, about 1.6 times the risk after adjusting for smoking and other factors, with shipyard work and smoking together raising risk more than either alone. The authors concluded that asbestos and possibly other wartime shipyard exposures explain part of the excess lung cancer deaths in some coastal areas of the United States.
We are researching other documented sites in Georgia and will add them only when we can cite a government or published record.
Georgia filing deadlines
| Claim | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 2 years | O.C.G.A. 9-3-33 |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from death | O.C.G.A. 9-3-33, as applied by Georgia courts |
Georgia allows two years for personal injury (O.C.G.A. 9-3-33). Georgia courts apply the same two-year period to wrongful death and count it from the death.
Also note: Georgia courts apply the two-year period in 9-3-33 to wrongful death and count it from the death (Miles v. Ashland Chemical Co., Ga. 1991).
Deadlines and discovery rules change and depend on the facts. Confirm them with a lawyer licensed in Georgia. Compare other states in our national table.
Treatment in Georgia
NCI lists one designated cancer center in Georgia that sees patients:
| Center (NCI profile) | Institution and location, as NCI lists it | NCI designation |
|---|---|---|
| Winship Cancer Institute | Emory University Atlanta, Georgia | Comprehensive |
VA health care in Georgia
Veterans with asbestos-related illness can get care through VA. These VA health care systems serve Georgia; 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 Georgia State Board 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
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Start the free reviewCommon questions
The Georgia study was about lung cancer. Does it apply to mesothelioma?
The study measured lung cancer, but its authors pointed to asbestos as a likely cause, and asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. If you or a relative worked in a Georgia shipyard, tell your doctor and any lawyer.
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
- Lung cancer after employment in shipyards during World War II (Blot et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 1978, NIH PubMed)
- O.C.G.A. 9-3-33 (Justia reproduction of the Georgia code)
- Find an NCI-designated cancer center (National Cancer Institute, list updated June 10, 2026)
- VA health care systems serving Georgia (VA.gov)
- Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation