Mesothelioma Symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma are often mistakes for minor illnesses, and when symptoms present themselves, the disease is usually in its later stages. Some signs present as the following:
- Pain in the side of the chest or lower back
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Fever
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Trouble swallowing
- Hoarseness
- Swelling of the face and arms
Fibreboard Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits
Paper mill workers may have been exposed to asbestos during different stages in the manufacturing process. Some of those positions affected include the following:
- Machine setters
- Machine tenders and operators
- Truck and tractor operators
- Printing machine operators
- Screen printers
- Floor supervisors
- Inspectors and quality control officers
- System operators
- Assemblers and fabricators
- Boiler workers
- Maintenance workers
Maintenance Workers at Highest Risk
Maintenance staff at paper mills faced some of the highest risks of toxic exposure. Maintenance workers, responsible for the inspection and repair of machinery, dismantled machines and opened passageways, often leading to the inhalation of loose asbestos fibers from the insulation and heating elements.
One study found that among paper industry employees, the majority of fatal asbestos exposure occurred in maintenance workers.
Dryer Felts Asbestos Hazards
During the paper drying process, dryer felts were commonly used to remove excess moisture. This process posed particular hazards because the dryer felts, or fabrics, contained asbestos.
Dryer felts had to be replaced quite often, and new felt was cut for the machines. When these materials were regularly maintained, asbestos fibers were released from dryer felts in drying machines, further endangering Fibreboard employees.
Paper Mill Asbestos Locations
- Paper cutting, sawing and slicing
- Banding, wrapping, boxing, stitching, or sealing paper or paperboard sheets
- Transporting raw materials (wood, pulp, etc.)
- Inspecting machines
- Repairing machines
- Handling talc and sanding paper
- Working on piping and boilers
Paper Mill Asbestos & Mesothelioma
Several international health agencies have raised concerns over the safety of working in paper mills. The American Journal of Epidemiology published a conclusive study conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers that found mill workers were “at increased risk of dying from lung cancer and mesothelioma, probably due to exposure to asbestos.”
A study published in 2010 by the Public Health Agency of Canada found that asbestos exposure among paper and pulp mill workers has been linked to an increased risk of developing cancer. They note that the increased risk “relates to lung and pleural cancers and asbestos exposure.”
A Swedish study in 2001 showed an increased risk of mesothelioma among paper mill workers. Over 70 percent of the victims had been exposed to asbestos, the majority working as maintenance workers in the factories.
Many experience asbestos exposure through the workplace. Workplaces may have been filled with toxic materials, and employers may have failed to warn of the serious health risks of the job. Filing a suit helps to raise the awareness of job safety.
Asbestos can be found in factories, warehouses, hospitals, schools, homes built before 1980, construction sites, and in many military installations. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), there are 75 different jobs that can expose workers to asbestos, with those jobs primarily involving construction and manufacturing. Thousands of American workers are still exposed to asbestos each year.
Mesothelioma is a serious illness that has been linked to asbestos exposure in medical literature. It is estimated that there will be thousands of new cases due to the latency period of 20-50 years after being first exposed to asbestos.
