A case-control study was planned to assess the increased risk of pleural mesothelioma associated with environmental asbestos exposure among residents living near former industrial sites. Following the results of the feasibility study, the study’s objective was revised to focus on a methodological approach for retrospective exposure estimation. The study was conducted using cases of non-occupational mesothelioma and controls recorded in the PNSM database. Environmental exposure for cases and controls was estimated by calculating a lifetime exposure score. This score combined exposure intensity, the distance between the subjects’ addresses and the sites, and the duration spent at each address. In total, 553 industrial sites and 1,119 shipyards were identified and located. Among men, 24 cases (69%) and 193 controls (64%) had an environmental exposure score different from 0, and among women, 48 cases (66%) and 94 controls (66%) had a score different from 0. Among women, the increased risk of mesothelioma was not significant, with an OR=1.2 (95% CI [0.7–2.3]). For men, the OR was 0.9 (95% CI [0.4–1.8]). Despite the challenges posed by missing data, this study enabled the development of an exposure indicator based on a Geographic Information System (GIS), individuals’ “space-time” budget, and incorporating an exposure intensity criterion. It enabled the formulation of recommendations regarding relevant data, such as the duration of industrial activity, the type of fiber used, the industrial process, and the volume of asbestos produced. (R.A.)