North-south gradient of mesothelioma and asbestos consumption-production in the United States-Progresses since the 1st asbestos partial ban in 1973.

BACKGROUND: Temporal trends and broad geographical distributions of asbestos use and the incidence of malignant mesothelioma (MM) in the US still need to be studied.

METHODS: Data on asbestos consumption and production between 1900 and 2015 and MM mortality and incidence rates between 1975 and 2015 in the US were examined. Spatial distributions of MM mortality and incidence rates and their association with climate zone were analyzed.

RESULTS: Decline of MM incidence and mortality rates in the US occurred about 20 years after the peak of asbestos consumption-production in 1973. There are apparent north-south (N-S) gradients in MM mortality and incidence rates in the US.

CONCLUSION: Recent decline of MM incidence and mortality rates in the US may be associated with reduced US asbestos consumption. N-S MM gradients between 1999 and 2015 were likely related to larger asbestos requirements in building materials in the northern states.