Mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Maine
Maine's documented record centers on two shipyards: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, where federal researchers assessed asbestos exposure for thousands of workers, and Bath Iron Works, the subject of a federal appeals court decision on a pipecoverer's asbestosis. This page covers both, Maine's 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: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Kittery); Bath Iron Works (Bath).
- Deadlines: personal injury 6 years (14 M.R.S. 752); wrongful death 3 years (18-C M.R.S. 2-807).
- Care: no NCI-designated center in the state; nearby centers are listed below, plus 1 VA health care systems.
- Confirm every deadline with a lawyer licensed in the state.
Documented asbestos exposure in Maine
We list only sites where asbestos is documented by a government agency or published research. Many other workplaces in Maine likely used asbestos-containing insulation and equipment, but we do not name a site unless we can point to a record.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Kittery)
Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) studied lung cancer deaths among civilians who worked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery between 1952 and 1977. Their 1988 study found elevated odds ratios for exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, and welding byproducts, and the odds ratios for combined asbestos and welding exposure increased with time since exposure. A later NIOSH study reconstructed historical exposures to asbestos, welding fumes, chromium, and nickel at the shipyard, with three experienced shipyard industrial hygienists independently rating 3,519 shop, job, and time period combinations.
Bath Iron Works (Bath)
In Bath Iron Works Corp. v. White (1978), the federal appeals court for the First Circuit described a claimant who worked at the shipyard as a flangecoverer and pipecoverer from 1939 to 1967, with extensive exposure to asbestos dust, and who was diagnosed with asbestosis in 1966. The court affirmed his award under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act.
Maine filing deadlines
| Claim | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 6 years | 14 M.R.S. 752 |
| Wrongful death | 3 years | 18-C M.R.S. 2-807 |
Maine allows six years for personal injury (14 M.R.S. 752), one of the longest general periods in the country. Wrongful death claims have three years (18-C M.R.S. 2-807).
Deadlines and discovery rules change and depend on the facts. Confirm them with a lawyer licensed in Maine. Compare other states in our national table.
Treatment in Maine
NCI's list (updated June 10, 2026) has no designated cancer center in Maine. The closest options are in neighboring states:
| State | Center (NCI profile) | Institution and location, as NCI lists it |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | Dartmouth Cancer Center | Dartmouth Health Lebanon, New Hampshire |
| Massachusetts | Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center | Boston, Massachusetts |
VA health care in Maine
Veterans with asbestos-related illness can get care through VA. These VA health care systems serve Maine; 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 Maine Workers' Compensation Board. 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, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, 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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Start the free reviewCommon questions
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is on the New Hampshire border. Which state's law applies?
The shipyard is in Kittery, Maine, but workers often lived in New Hampshire. Which state's deadline and law apply depends on where a case is filed and that court's rules. Shipyard work can also fall under federal programs. A lawyer should sort this out early.
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
- Case-control study of lung cancer in civilian employees at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine (Rinsky et al., American Journal of Epidemiology, 1988, NIH PubMed)
- Retrospective exposure assessment of asbestos, welding fumes, chromium, and nickel at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Seel et al., Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 2007, NIH PubMed)
- Bath Iron Works Corp. v. White, 584 F.2d 569 (1st Cir. 1978) (Justia)
- Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act program (U.S. Department of Labor)
- 14 M.R.S. 752 (Maine official code)
- 18-C M.R.S. 2-807 (Maine official code)
- Find an NCI-designated cancer center (National Cancer Institute, list updated June 10, 2026)
- VA health care systems serving Maine (VA.gov)
- Maine Workers' Compensation Board