Why Mesothelioma Cases Occur in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's industrial economy created a broad asbestos exposure landscape that affected workers across multiple sectors. The state's paper manufacturing industry, concentrated in the Fox River Valley near Appleton and Green Bay, is one of the largest paper-producing regions in the United States. According to WikiMesothelioma.com, these paper mills used asbestos extensively in boiler insulation, dryer felts, steam piping, and machinery components for decades, exposing thousands of mill workers to asbestos fibers throughout their careers.
Beyond paper manufacturing, Wisconsin's asbestos exposure profile includes Marinette Marine (now Fincantieri Marinette Marine), a major naval shipyard that builds Littoral Combat Ships and other vessels for the U.S. Navy. Ship construction has historically involved extensive use of asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing materials. Milwaukee's heavy manufacturing sector — including the brewing industry, engine manufacturing, and heavy equipment production — added to the state's industrial asbestos burden.
Power plants throughout Wisconsin also relied on asbestos insulation for boilers, turbines, and steam systems. Wisconsin Electric Power Company (now We Energies) and other utilities operated coal-fired and gas-fired generating stations where maintenance workers were regularly exposed to asbestos-containing materials during equipment servicing and repair.
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 workers exposed in Wisconsin's paper mills, shipyards, and factories during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are being diagnosed now. A paper mill worker who maintained boilers at a Fox River Valley mill in 1968 may only receive a mesothelioma diagnosis in 2025 or later. This long latency period is why Wisconsin continues to produce new mesothelioma cases decades after asbestos use was curtailed.
Many Wisconsin workers were employed at multiple industrial facilities over the course of a career, creating cumulative exposure across industries. A pipefitter might have worked at a paper mill, then a brewery, then a power plant — each job adding to the total asbestos burden. This multi-facility exposure is important for legal claims because it can connect a patient to multiple asbestos trust funds and defendants.
Wisconsin's Industrial Asbestos Legacy
The Fox River Valley paper mills, Marinette Marine shipyard, Milwaukee's manufacturing and brewing sector, and power plants throughout the state created widespread asbestos exposure across Wisconsin's industrial workforce. If you worked at any paper mill, shipyard, brewery, manufacturing plant, or power plant in Wisconsin before the mid-1980s, documenting your asbestos exposure history is a critical first step toward protecting your legal rights.
