Paper Mill Workers - Mesothelioma Risks

Paper mill workers perform tasks during the papermaking procedure such as monitoring and servicing machinery. Many mills produce paper at a series of stations and may include the following actions:

• Process wood chips and recycled materials
• Chemically bleach materials
• Create paper pulp from broken down fibers

After the pulp passes through the initial chemical and mechanical processing stages, paper mill workers place it on large drying machines that remove the leftover moisture. Workers will then shape this into sheets and lay it out on a screen to dry under a heat source. Once it stiffens, the resulting product is commercially sold paper.

Paper Mill Workers and Asbestos Exposure

A study conducted in British Columbia found that asbestos exposure in pulp mills has been linked to increased cancer risk in workers. A separate Italian study tested dust samples and machinery in a small Italian factory that manufactured paper mill dryers and found asbestos fibers present in the equipment. Three cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma were also reported in the factory's workforce.

A pleural cancer study also found that among paper industry employees, the majority of fatal asbestos exposure occurred in maintenance workers. Maintenance workers at paper mills were responsible for the upkeep of the intricate paper-making machinery. To ensure that the product was correctly produced, maintenance workers opened up the machinery to check that the passageways were clear and the heating elements were working properly.

Both of these tasks could lead to the inhalation of loose fibers from the insulation and heating element holders, many of which are made of crocidolite asbestos. Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like additional information about your health care and legal options, please fill out the form on this page.

Resources for Paper Mill Workers

The daily operations at a paper mill placed many mill workers at high risk for inhaling asbestos and developing an asbestos-related disease. If you were exposed to asbestos at a paper mill, the Mesothelioma Center can help you make an appointment to discuss the potential health complications with a qualified physician in your area. If you are experiencing symptoms of an asbestos-related disease, please contact the Doctor Match Program.