Textile Mill Workers - Mesothelioma Risks
The textile industry produces fabric, yarn, thread and other finished cloth goods. Textiles are manufactured by weaving, knitting, crocheting or pressing fibers together. In the past, a number of these goods were made with asbestos fibers.
The four main sources and types of textiles include animal textiles (hair and fur), plant textiles (grass, straw, bamboo, rice and cotton), mineral textiles (asbestos, basalt fiber and glass fiber) and synthetic textiles (polyester, acrylic, nylon, spandex and more).
Processing Asbestos in Textile Mills
Before strict regulations on the use of asbestos were implemented, the process of converting asbestos into usable fabric was one that involved many different workers and locations. In every stage of the preparation, dust and fibers from asbestos were likely to become airborne. The first step involved asbestos being crushed in a milling machine made of iron rollers. The next step involved asbestos being willowed (the automated willower beat and shredded the matted masses into fibers) and later delivered to storage. Laborers who transported asbestos into the willower may have been exposed to tremendous amounts of dust and asbestos fibers.
Another step required workers to move the asbestos from storage and mix it with cotton. It was then piled, which meant cotton and asbestos were put in alternating layers on the floor and then fed to a picker machine. This was followed by carding, the arranging of cotton and asbestos fibers in parallel rows. The asbestos cards were then spun into yarn and wound around spools. This process created an environment prone to asbestos exposure.
Uses for Asbestos-Containing Textiles
Asbestos textiles were woven into brake linings, tape, rope, protective clothing, electrical insulation and packing for machine bearings. During the weaving process, threads rubbed together and produced dust and lint. The resulting asbestos cloth was then shipped to factories that produced fire-resistant clothing for firefighters and other goods that needed to be fireproofed and insulated.
Asbestos textiles could also be made into asbestos sheets. The fibers were mixed with resins and processed in a rotating, heated mixer. The material was then fed into two rollers to make it flat, where one roller heated and the other roller chilled. The sheets that were created were used to make the following products:
- Fire curtains
- Roofing felts
- Welding blankets
- Fireproof safety clothing
- Oven mitts and pot holders
Health Risks for Textile Workers
In addition to textile mill workers and those in factories that handled asbestos cloth, seamstresses that manipulated asbestos textiles were exposed to the fibers well. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to several health conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure occurs when airborne asbestos is inhaled or ingested. Former workers who handled asbestos textiles may be at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
In a 1998 study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, previous records of workers from an asbestos textile, friction and packing plant in the 1970s were analyzed to determine the causes of death. The study evaluated 2,722 men and 554 women. Results indicated that 49 men and 14 women passed away from lung cancer. Asbestosis and other lung diseases caused 76 deaths in men and 14 deaths in women. Mesothelioma deaths totaled 14 men and four women. This study emphasized the risks of asbestos exposure for textile mill workers.
Symptoms of an asbestos-related disease can take between 10 and 50 years to arise. Because of this severe latency period, many who contract one of these conditions do not realize it until the disease has already reached a late stage of development. Those concerned about their former exposure to asbestos should monitor their health and be aware of symptoms.
Resources for Textile Workers
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we offer our Doctor Match Program to those looking for treatment with an experienced physician in their area. If you would like to learn more about your condition and available resources, talk to one of our Patient and Family Advocates by calling (800) 615-2270.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
