Arkansas's Asbestos Exposure History
Arkansas's asbestos exposure history reflects the state's diverse industrial base. While Arkansas may not have the concentration of heavy industry found in Gulf Coast or Rust Belt states, its paper mills, chemical plants, aluminum smelting operations, railroad infrastructure, and power plants all used asbestos extensively for decades. The result is a pattern of occupational asbestos exposure that affected workers across multiple industries and communities throughout the state.
According to WikiMesothelioma.com, Arkansas workers in the paper, chemical, aluminum, and power generation industries faced significant occupational asbestos exposure throughout the 20th century. Asbestos was used as insulation in the high-temperature equipment that these industries relied upon, and workers who built, maintained, and operated this equipment inhaled asbestos fibers over the course of their careers.
The paper mill industry was particularly significant in south Arkansas, where large-scale pulp and paper operations used asbestos insulation in pulp digesters, steam pipes, boilers, and dryers. Alcoa's aluminum smelting operations used asbestos in potlines and high-temperature processing equipment. Entergy operated coal-fired power plants across the state with asbestos insulation in boilers, turbines, and steam distribution systems. And Pine Bluff Arsenal — a military chemical weapons and munitions facility — used asbestos in its manufacturing buildings and infrastructure.
The 20-to-50-Year Latency Period
Mesothelioma does not appear immediately after asbestos exposure. The disease has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, meaning paper mill workers, power plant operators, and chemical plant employees exposed in Arkansas during the 1960s and 1970s are being diagnosed now. A maintenance worker who repaired asbestos-insulated equipment at an Arkansas paper mill in 1970 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later.
Arkansas's 3-Year Statute of Limitations
Arkansas provides a slightly longer filing window than many states, allowing 3 years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury claim and 3 years from the date of death for wrongful death claims. While this additional time can be helpful, patients and families should not delay. Building a strong case requires identifying asbestos product manufacturers, gathering employment records, and filing trust fund claims — processes that benefit from an early start. If you worked at any industrial facility in Arkansas, documenting your asbestos exposure history should begin as soon as possible.
