Asbestos and Paper Mill Workers

Papermill workers, specifically those who worked in the mills before the 1980s, are at a heightened risk of developing malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Most paper mills across the nation once used an abundance of asbestos-containing materials in machinery, products, and equipment.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you might be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

About Paper Mills

Paper mills play an important role in manufacturing products we use daily, such as paper, napkins, packaging, and more.

For a paper mill to produce these products, employees and contractors work in mills that make products from tree logs, old rags, and chips, which are turned into wood pulp and then processed and packaged.

This process requires paper mill workers to prepare, pulp, and refine the materials, including bleaching, coating, and drying. The products are then cut and prepared for packaging to be shipped out.

Paper Mills and Asbestos

Thousands of workers employed at paper mills were once surrounded by asbestos each day that they went to work. In addition to those who handled asbestos, other workers risked asbestos exposure:

• Tractor operators who delivered forest logs to the paper mills
• Machine operators who set up the machines in the paper mills
• Printing machine operators
• Managers and supervisors
• Maintenance workers who repaired the paper mills’ machinery

Papermill workers were commonly exposed to asbestos via paper mill insulation, asbestos-containing materials in the machinery and equipment, and construction materials used to build the paper mills.

Maintenance workers ran the highest risk of asbestos exposure as they worked around deteriorating asbestos-containing products and materials while doing repairs.

However, regardless of job function, all paper mill workers are at risk of developing an asbestos illness, including malignant mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Studies on Paper Mill Workers and Asbestos

Over the years, many studies on asbestos exposure and paper mill workers have been conducted. The results have shown that workers are susceptible to developing fatal illnesses due to the high amount of asbestos used at paper mills.

In 2005, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a study performed on the paper mill industry in Pistoia, Italy.

The research was performed on a small paper mill factory that used asbestos cement as insulating panels. The three different types of asbestos used in the insulating panels included crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile.

To test for asbestos, samples from drying machines and dust clouds were collected. The results found asbestos in both the drying machines and in the dust of the paper mill.

A 1996 study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine (AJIM) reports that paper mill workers are at a heightened risk of developing lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, especially maintenance workers.

The study also noted that paper mill workers are in danger of developing malignant lymphoma and leukemia.

Manufacturers That Supplied Asbestos to Paper Mills

Numerous manufacturers once supplied asbestos-containing products and materials to paper mills across the nation, with the most notable companies being:

• Champion International Paper
• Kimberly-Clark
• Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc
• W.R. Grace
• Georgia-Pacific
• Kaiser Aluminum

Most paper mill workers had no idea how dangerous working with asbestos was. Many of the workers didn’t realize they were even working around the hazardous set of minerals. They were not provided the proper safety to help protect themselves from inhaling or ingesting asbestos.

Many asbestos manufacturers knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure yet withheld the information or denied the studies, as they were more concerned with making a profit than human health.

If you worked in a paper mill in the past, consider talking to an asbestos attorney who can help you seek compensation for asbestos exposure and illness.

Additional Help and Information for Paper Mill Workers

Remember that you may qualify for significant compensation if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related cancer. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.