Paper mill workers are at risk of exposure to asbestos products in equipment and in building materials. Asbestos dryer felts, gaskets and insulation were common sources of exposure in paper mills. Asbestos paper products were not made in paper mills, but they were made on traditional paper mill equipment.
Written by Michelle Whitmer | Scientifically Reviewed by Arti Shukla, Ph.D. | Edited by Walter Pacheco | Last Update: February 12, 2026
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Paper mill workers were exposed to asbestos products in paper mill equipment and building materials used to construct the facility. New paper mill equipment and facilities are no longer made with asbestos materials, but paper mills built before the 1990s may still contain asbestos in machinery and construction materials.
Most asbestos exposure in paper mills occurs through equipment maintenance. Because pulping, paper making and boiler operations involve high heat, asbestos was used to insulate pipes and vessels, which maintenance workers often encountered. Maintenance personnel were also at a high risk of exposure because asbestos was present in the mill machinery that they were required to inspect and repair.
Paper mill workers may have been exposed to asbestos during different stages of paper manufacturing. Talc is used as a paper additive in the bleaching and refining process of paper manufacturing, and it can be contaminated with asbestos. Mill workers also were exposed during the drying process where asbestos dryer felts, or fabrics, were used to enhance production of high-speed paper machines.
Anyone working at paper mills may have been exposed to asbestos in building materials, including industrial adhesives, pipes and ceiling and floor tiles. Asbestos was also in wall insulation, roofing shingles and siding because paper is highly flammable and the need for protection against any potential for fire was necessary.
Asbestos paper products were not manufactured in paper mills. They were produced in asbestos product manufacturing plants on Fourdrinier paper mill machines, which are used to produce conventional paper. Manufacturing workers who made asbestos paper products faced the greatest exposure risk when handling raw asbestos fibers.
Paper mill workers were exposed to a number of asbestos products:
Paper mill equipment and materials that contained asbestos included gaskets, dryer felts, talc and sandpaper backing. To ensure that paper was produced correctly, maintenance workers opened the machinery to check that the passageways were clear and the heating elements were working properly. This could lead to the inhalation of loose fibers from the insulation and heating element holders, many of which were made of crocidolite asbestos.
During daily routine maintenance, asbestos dust was released from dryer felts in dryer machines. When the dryer felts had to be replaced, workers were exposed to asbestos particles when they hand cut and fitted the new felt into the machines. In older mills, boiler workers would remove ash from the bottom of the boilers and then reseal the boilers by applying a mixture of asbestos and cement around the boiler grate. In modern paper mills, this process is automatic.
A variety of asbestos construction materials were used to build paper mills, including industrial adhesives, insulation, paneling, ceiling and floor tiles, paint, packing material, cement, countertops, roofing shingles and siding.
Asbestos insulation was the most common building material that posed an exposure threat. It was found in and around walls, doors, piping and boilers. Building maintenance workers who repaired or replaced asbestos-containing building materials were at high risk of asbestos exposure.
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Get Your Free GuideMany different asbestos manufacturers supplied paper mills with asbestos products. Some of the more well-known asbestos manufacturers that supplied paper mills include:
Even though asbestos paper products were not made in paper mills, they were produced on paper mill equipment in asbestos product manufacturing plants. This meant that workers who manufactured asbestos paper experienced similar pathways of asbestos exposure when working with or around asbestos parts on mill equipment. Maintenance workers at asbestos paper manufacturing plants were exposed to dangerous amounts of asbestos when maintaining and repairing paper mill equipment that contained asbestos parts.
Asbestos manufacturing plant workers were exposed to the highest concentrations of asbestos when they mixed asbestos fibers with other materials to make paper products. Asbestos paper products usually contained a high asbestos fiber content ranging from 70% to 90%. They were mixed with other materials for many different applications, including pipe coverings, gaskets, insulation linings and wicks.
Asbestos paper lining was used as a form of insulation for many applications, including around air conditioning units and ductwork. Asbestos millboard was a type of stiff paper commonly mixed with clay or cement for use as a liner in stoves, toasters and other high-temperature applications. Heavy asbestos papers were used for roofing materials and shingles.
Reports of asbestos wallpaper, particularly vinyl wallpaper, are difficult to confirm, but there’s a possibility that asbestos adhesive was used to secure wallpaper onto walls.
Several studies have concluded that paper mill workers suffer higher rates of asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma. According to a 2022 report by the European Commission, over 70,000 workers died in 2019 from past exposure to asbestos.
Exposure to asbestos is known to cause four cancers: mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. It also causes a pulmonary disease called asbestosis involving progressive scarring of lung tissue.
There is no cure for mesothelioma, but doctors who specialize in mesothelioma treatment can help people live longer with the condition. Innovative treatments and clinical trials are helping patients live longer, better lives with mesothelioma.
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Find an AttorneyPaper mill workers have filed lawsuits against manufacturers using asbestos in products in addition to the companies that owned and operated paper mills.
Other companies operating paper mills have been included in mesothelioma lawsuits, such as Grant Wilson and International Paper Company. Grant Wilson made many different types of asbestos products, including asbestos paper that it marketed to homeowners. The International Paper Company was one of the biggest paper producers in the U.S. In the early 1900s, it produced 60% of U.S. newspaper. The company has been named in asbestos lawsuits by former employees claiming exposure in the company’s paper mills.
If you worked in a paper mill and have developed mesothelioma, it is important to hire a mesothelioma attorney to handle your legal claims. You may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit and asbestos trust fund claims.
If you’ve lost a loved one to mesothelioma, you may qualify to file a wrongful death claim to access compensation for medical costs, lost wages and funeral expenses. It is best to speak with an attorney to learn more about your eligibility to file a claim.
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Whitmer, M. (2026, February 12). Paper Mill Workers and Asbestos Exposure. Asbestos.com. Retrieved February 13, 2026, from https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/paper-mill-workers/
Whitmer, Michelle. "Paper Mill Workers and Asbestos Exposure." Asbestos.com, 12 Feb 2026, https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/paper-mill-workers/.
Whitmer, Michelle. "Paper Mill Workers and Asbestos Exposure." Asbestos.com. Last modified February 12, 2026. https://www.asbestos.com/occupations/paper-mill-workers/.
An occupational scientist or another expert who specializes in occupational hazards reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current scientific standards and accuracy.
Arti Shukla, Ph.D., is an internationally renowned asbestos researcher known for her achievements in identifying biomarkers that cause mesothelioma. She is the director of the Shukla Research Lab, as well as a professor of pathology at The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.
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