New Jersey reports approximately 120 mesothelioma diagnoses per year. The state's dense industrial corridor — particularly along the Hudson River waterfront, Newark Bay, and the chemical corridor between Newark and Trenton — was home to shipyards, oil refineries, chemical plants, and pharmaceutical manufacturers that together created one of the most heavily industrialized environments in America. New Jersey also has a particularly significant asbestos connection: Johns-Manville Corporation, the single largest asbestos producer in US history, was headquartered in Manville, New Jersey.
Asbestos Exposure History in New Jersey
The Kearny-Newark waterfront was home to Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock and Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding — two major WWII-era shipyards where thousands of workers were exposed to asbestos insulation in ship construction and repair. The Bayway Refinery in Linden (operated first by Esso, then Exxon, now Bayway) was one of the largest oil refineries on the East Coast, exposing workers to asbestos pipe insulation throughout the facility. The chemical corridor along Route 1/9 between Newark and Trenton housed dozens of chemical manufacturers. And Manville, NJ was the site of Johns-Manville's massive asbestos manufacturing and mining operations — which for decades exposed workers while the company knowingly concealed the health risks.
Key Asbestos Exposure Sites in New Jersey
- Federal Shipbuilding & Drydock (Kearny)
- Bethlehem Steel Shipbuilding (Hoboken)
- Port Newark / Port Elizabeth industrial complex
- Esso (Exxon) Bayway Refinery (Linden)
- PSEG power plants (statewide)
- Johns-Manville Corporation (Manville, NJ — headquarters)
Documented Sites with Detailed Records
Ground zero for the American asbestos industry. The Johns-Manville plant in Manville manufactured asbestos insulation, roofing, and flooring products. Workers and the surrounding community were exposed to asbestos fibers for over 70 years.
One of the largest oil refineries on the East Coast. Refinery workers, contract insulators, and maintenance employees were exposed to asbestos in pipe lagging, boiler insulation, and heat exchanger coverings throughout the sprawling facility.
Bayonne was once home to more than a dozen oil refineries and chemical plants along the Kill Van Kull waterway. Workers throughout the complex were exposed to asbestos in pipe insulation, boiler coverings, and chemical processing equipment.
Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company operated one of the most productive WWII shipyards in the nation. Thousands of workers building destroyers and cargo ships were exposed to asbestos in insulation, pipe coverings, and fireproofing throughout the hulls.
The Army's primary communications and electronics research center. Military personnel and civilian workers in research labs, barracks, and support buildings constructed before the 1980s were exposed to asbestos in building materials and electrical insulation.
Top Industries for Asbestos Exposure in New Jersey
- Chemical & Pharmaceutical Plants
- Shipbuilding
- Oil Refining
- Construction
- Power Generation
New Jersey Mesothelioma Laws & Filing Deadlines
New Jersey has a 2-year statute of limitations for both personal injury and wrongful death asbestos claims. New Jersey has been an active asbestos litigation state, with courts in Essex, Middlesex, and Hudson counties handling significant caseloads. New Jersey allows punitive damages in asbestos cases where manufacturers acted with reckless disregard for worker safety — which courts have found particularly applicable to Johns-Manville-related claims.
* Filing deadlines are based on state law at time of publication. Always verify current deadlines with a licensed mesothelioma attorney in New Jersey.
Frequently Asked Questions — Mesothelioma in New Jersey
Yes. The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, established when Johns-Manville filed for bankruptcy, is one of the oldest and largest asbestos trust funds still in operation. Workers who were exposed to Johns-Manville products — which were used across the entire US — can still file claims against this trust.