North Carolina’s industrial base during the twentieth century was focused more on textiles, tobacco and wood products than on the heavy iron and steel based production facilities of the northeastern states. The big businesses in North Carolina that used asbestos in their factories are the textile mills, the power plants, the paper and pulp mills and the occasional chemical plant.
Asbestos in its natural state is fibrous and flexible. It was used by many textile manufacturers as an element of protective clothing. Asbestos is both a natural insulator that provides protection from heat and a fire retardant that resists flame. For that reason it was used in work clothes of all kinds. The textile workers that were responsible for manufacturing that cloth had to create usable weaving material from the slender asbestos fibers and then weave the cloth.
When asbestos was declared a health hazard the textile mills were left with the task of cleaning it up or abandoning the building. Many took the latter course and left behind a toxic shell. Burlington Industries has been a defendant in many asbestos liability suits.
Asbestos was also added to mechanical components in textile mills and paper plants. It resisted heat and provided insulation for components that would get hot during extended runs of mechanized looms or paper plants. Asbestos also provided some protection in areas where corrosive and hazardous products were used in conjunction with machinery along the production line.
In many paper mills, the finished product was laid out to dry on mats that included asbestos fibers. The manufacturing facilities of twentieth century North Carolina had a remarkable assortment of components manufactured in part from asbestos.
Dangers of Asbestos Exposure
The human danger from asbestos exposure is the possibility of inhaling the tiny fibers that the mineral gives off. Those fibers work their way into internal tissue and eventually can cause scarring of the lungs or create the malignant cells that lead to mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is unusual in that its symptoms can take up to twenty years or more to appear after an individual is exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos Jobsites in North Carolina
The North Carolina jobsite locations listed below are all known to have exposed employees to asbestos. If you were ever employed at any one of them, discuss the implications of asbestos exposure with him or her and schedule regular checkups. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma caner or some other asbestos related disease, contact an experienced North Carolina mesothelioma lawyer to discuss what compensation is owe you by the asbestos product manufacturers and the employers that used those products.
J. P. STEVENS & CO. ABERDEEN NC
RIEGEL PAPER CO ACME NC
ACME-MCCRARY CORP. ASHEBORO NC
PITCHARD ST PLANT ASHEBORO NC
AMERICAN ENKA ASHEVILLE NC
ASHEVILLE STEEL COMPANY INCORPORATED ASHEVILLE NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT ASHEVILLE NC
CHAMPION PAPER COMPANY ASHEVILLE NC
ENKA TEXTILE MILL ASHEVILLE NC
HYATT ELECTRIC COMPANY INCORPORATED ASHEVILLE NC
INKA HIGH SCHOOL ASHEVILLE NC
SKYLAND POWERHOUSE ASHEVILLE NC
SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY ASHEVILLE NC
BROWN & ROOT AURORA NC
TEXAS GULF SULPHUR CO AURORA NC
TEX-GULF AURORA NC
ACME MILLS BELMONT NC
ALLEN POWER PLANT BELMONT NC
DIXON FORD BELMONT NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - ALLEN POWER PLANT BELMONT NC
HATCH HOSIERY BELMONT NC
STOWE MANUFACTURING BELMONT NC
LITHIUM CORPORATION OF AMERICA BESSEMER CITY NC
APPALACHIAN ELECTRIC POWER CO. BOONE NC
APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY BOONE NC
DUPONT CHEMICAL. BREVARD NC
DUKE POWER CO - CLIFFSIDE POWER PLANT BRICE NC
R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY BROOK COVE NC
BURLINGTON TEXTILE MILL BURLINGTON NC
WESTERN ELECTRIC CO. BURLINGTON NC
CAMP LEJEUNE CAMP LEJEUNE NC
U.S. MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE NC
BASF CHEMICAL PLANT CANDLER NC
CHAMPION PAPER MILL CANTON NC
ENKA PLANT CANTON NC
CAPE FEAR CONSTR CAPE FEAR NC
DIAMOND SHAMROCK CHEMICAL PLANT CASTLE HAYNE NC
IDEAL CEMENT CASTLE HAYNE NC
DUKE POWER CO - MARSHALL PLANT CATAWBA NC
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL NC
BUZZARDS ROOST POWER PLANT CHAPPELL NC
WESTERN ELECTRIC CO. CHARLESTON NC
AIRPORT - DOUGLAS TERMINAL CHARLOTTE NC
AIRWOOD INDUST PARK - SOUTHERN RAILROAD CHARLOTTE NC
AKERS MOTOR LINES CHARLOTTE NC
AMERICAN CYANAMID CHARLOTTE NC
APPLIED INSULATION CO. CHARLOTTE NC
ARROWOOD INDUSTRIAL PARK CHARLOTTE NC
ARTS BLDG JOB CHARLOTTE NC
BARHARDT MANUFACTURING CHARLOTTE NC
BASF PLANT CHARLOTTE NC
BELL TELEPHONE BLDG CHARLOTTE NC
CELANESE CORPORATION CHARLOTTE NC
CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHARLOTTE NC
CHARLOTTE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CHARLOTTE NC
CHARLOTTE TOWN MALL CHARLOTTE NC
CULLOWEE COLLEGE CHARLOTTE NC
CUTTOR BUILDING CHARLOTTE NC
D. & B. INSULATION COMPANY, INC. CHARLOTTE NC
DAVIDSON COLLEGE CHARLOTTE NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - MOUNT HOLLY PLANT CHARLOTTE NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY BLDG CHARLOTTE NC
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK CHARLOTTE NC
GENERAL TIRE CHARLOTTE NC
GUY M. BEATTY & CO. CHARLOTTE NC
H K PORTER - THERMOID DIVISION CHARLOTTE NC
HAWTHORNE MEDICAL CENTER CHARLOTTE NC
IREDELL COUNTY SCHOOLS CHARLOTTE NC
LANCE SNACK FOODS PLANT CHARLOTTE NC
MERCY HOSPITAL CHARLOTTE NC
MERITA BAKERY CHARLOTTE NC
OWENS-CORNING FIBERGLAS CORP. CHARLOTTE NC
PIPE & BOILER INSULATION, INC. CHARLOTTE NC
PORTER-HAYDEN COMPANY CHARLOTTE NC
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL CHARLOTTE NC
R. H. BOULIGNY, INC. CHARLOTTE NC
RIVERBEND POWER PLANT CHARLOTTE NC
SOUTHEASTERN MAGNESIUM & ASBESTOS CO., INC. CHARLOTTE NC
SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY CHARLOTTE NC
SOUTHERN RAILROAD - ARROWWOOD CHARLOTTE NC
STARR DAVIS COMPANY, INC. CHARLOTTE NC
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE NC
WACHOVIA BANK CHARLOTTE NC
WESTERN NC VOCATIONAL SCHOOL CHARLOTTE NC
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CHARLOTTE NC
YMCA CHARLOTTE NC
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT NC
U. S. MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT NC
CHINA GROVE COTTON MILLS CHINA GROVE NC
CONE MILLS CLIFFSIDE NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - CLIFFSIDE POWER PLANT CLIFFSIDE NC
LUNDY PACKING PLANT CLINTON NC
FARMERS CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. COFIELD NC
CABAROUS HOSPITAL CONCORD NC
CANNON MILLS COMPANY CONCORD NC
KERR BLEACHERY CONCORD NC
BROYHILL FURNITURE CONOVER NC
AMERICAN TIMBER PRODS CO - AMPAC DIVISION CONWAY NC
ERWIN MILLS COOLEEMEE NC
BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. CRAMERTON NC
CRAMERTON FINISHING PLANT CRAMERTON NC
MAYFLOWER PLANT CRAMERTON NC
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY CULLAWEE NC
DAVIDSON COLLEGE DAVIDSON NC
DUPONT CHEMICAL. DUART NC
BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. DURHAM NC
DUKE UNIVERSITY DURHAM NC
ERWIN MILLS DURHAM NC
GOLDEN BELT MANUFACTURING CO. DURHAM NC
GOODWIN AND PATTERSON CO. DURHAM NC
SOUTHERN TICKET OFFICE SIDING DURHAM NC
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL DURHAM NC
WATERWORK SIDING DURHAM NC
WILSON CITY HOSPITAL DURHAM NC
WYATT INSULATION, INC. DURHAM NC
FIBER INDUSTRIES EARL NC
CANNON TEXTILE MILL EDEN NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - DAN RIVER POWER PLANT EDEN NC
ENKA TEXTILE MILL ENKA NC
COLLINS & AIKMAN CORPORATION FARMVILLE NC
BURLINGTON TEXTILE MILL FAYETTE NC
KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRE FAYETTE NC
METHODIST COLLEGE FAYETTE NC
NYLON INDUSTRIES FIBERTON NC
BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. FOREST CITY NC
J. C. BOWAN PLANT FOREST CITY NC
FORT BRAGG FORT BRAGG NC
US ARMY BASE FORT BRAGG NC
ASHEBROOK HIGH SCHOOL GASTONIA NC
CLAIRE DUNNING - ARMSTRONG TEXTILE GASTONIA NC
GASTON COUNTY HOSPITAL GASTONIA NC
GASTON COUNTY JAIL GASTONIA NC
PARKDALE MILLS GASTONIA NC
THREADS INC GASTONIA NC
US POSTAL SERVICE GASTONIA NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - LEE POWER PLANT GOLDSBORO NC
WAYNE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GOLDSBORO NC
KINGSTON PLANT GRAINGERS NC
AMBROSE INSULATION COMPANY GREENSBORO NC
AMERICAN ENKA GREENSBORO NC
BURLINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. GREENSBORO NC
CHAMPION PAPER CO GREENSBORO NC
CHARLES PFIZER & CO GREENSBORO NC
COVIL INSULATION COMPANY GREENSBORO NC
COVIL SALES INC - AMERICAN ENKA JOB GREENSBORO NC
DUKE HOSPITAL GREENSBORO NC
ENGLISH ST SIDING GREENSBORO NC
INDUSTRIAL INSULATION CO. GREENSBORO NC
NYLON INDUSTRIES INC GREENSBORO NC
PFIZER & CO., INC. GREENSBORO NC
SKYLAND POWER GREENSBORO NC
SOUTHERN RAILROAD SIDING - ENGLISH ST SIDING GREENSBORO NC
STARR DAVIS COMPANY, INC. GREENSBORO NC
WEYERHAUSER GREENSBORO NC
GLAXO WELLCOME, INC. GREENVILLE NC
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT HAVELOCK NC
CONE MILLS CORP - GRANITE FINISHING PLANT HAW RIVER NC
CONE MILLS CORP - TABARDRE PLANT HAW RIVER NC
CONE MILLS CORPORATION HAW RIVER NC
BERKLEY MILLS HENDERSON NC
US STEEL - GREEN RIVER BRIDGE HENDERSON NC
WATER TREATMENT PLANT HENDERSON NC
GENERAL ELECTRIC HENDERSONVILLE NC
HICKORY MANUFACTURING HICKORY NC
SOUTHERN DESK CO. HICKORY NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - MCGUIRE POWER PLANT HUNTERSVILLE NC
MCGUIRE POWER STATION HUNTERSVILLE NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO - ROXBORO PLANT HYCO NC
JACKSONVILLE PLYWOOD MILL JACKSONVILLE NC
WEYERHAEUSER COMPANY JACKSONVILLE NC
CANNON MILLS CO KANNAPOLIS NC
FIELDCREST CANNON KANNAPOLIS NC
FOOT MINE KINGS MOUNTAIN NC
CASEWELL CENTER KINSTON NC
DUPONT KINSTON NC
REA MAGNET WIRE COMPANY, INC. LAURINBURG NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT LELAND NC
BARHARDT FURNITURE PLANT LENOIR NC
BROYHILL FURNITURE LENOIR NC
CALDWELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LENOIR NC
DOVER INSULATION CO. LENOIR NC
PPG INDUSTRIES LEXINGTON NC
LINCOLN COUNTY HOSPITAL LINCOLNTON NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT LUMBERTON NC
ROBESON SALES CORPORATION LUMBERTON NC
SWANNS CREEK SCHOOL LUMBERTON NC
WEATHERSPOON POWER PLANT LUMBERTON NC
PINE HALL BRICK AND PIPE COMPANY MADISON NC
MARION MANUFACTURING MARION NC
UNARCO MARSHVILLE NC
REXHAN PAPER COMPANY MATTHEWS NC
MCGIRTS PLUMBING & ELECTRIC SERVICE MAXTON NC
PHARR YARNS MCADENVILLE NC
PHARR YARNS, INC. MCADENVILLE NC
HERITAGE FURNITURE CO., INC. MOCKSVILLE NC
INGERSOLL-RAND MOCKSVILLE NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO MONCURE NC
WEYERHAUSER PAPER MILL MONCURE NC
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH MONROE NC
BURLINGTON MILL MOORESVILLE NC
TEMPLON SPINNING MILL MOORESVILLE NC
GREAT LAKES CARBON BLACK CO MORGANTON NC
HENDERSON FURNITURE CO MORGANTON NC
GRACE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MORGANTOWN NC
BRISTOL MYERS MORRISVILLE NC
SANDAZ CHEMICAL MOUNT HOLLY NC
DUKE POWER CO - RIVERBEND STEAM PLANT MT. HOLLY NC
GASTON COUNTY DYEING MACHINE MT. HOLLY NC
SOUTHERN DYE MT. HOLLY NC
WEYERHAUSER CO. NEW BERN NC
SHEARON HARRIS NUCLEAR POWER PLANT NEW HILL NC
HOWARD WALLS BUILDING SUPPLY NORTH BELMONT NC
MCGURE POWER PLANT NULL
MISSILE PLANT PARIS ISLAND NC
ECUSTA PAPER CORPORATION PISGAH FOREST NC
OLIN MATHIESON CHEMICAL CORP. PISGAH FOREST NC
PAPER DIVISION PLYMOUTH NC
WEYERHAUSER CO. PLYMOUTH NC
WEYERHAUSER CO. - PLYMOUTH MILL SIDING PLYMOUTH NC
N C STATE COLLEGE RALEIGH NC
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH NC
RALSTON PURINA RALEIGH NC
STANDARD INSULATION COMPANY OF NC, INC. RALEIGH NC
REX MILLS RANLO NC
FEDERAL PAPERBOARD RIEGELWOOD NC
INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO. RIEGELWOOD NC
RIEGEL PAPER CO - NELSON CO. RIEGELWOOD NC
CHAMPION PAPER MILL ROANOKE RAPIDS NC
HALIFAX PAPER COMPANY ROANOKE RAPIDS NC
INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO. ROANOKE RAPIDS NC
PHOENIX FIBERS, INC. ROCKY MOUNT NC
SUPERGLAS RIDER E ROCKY MOUNT NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT ROXBORO NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT - HYCO STATION ROXBORO NC
RUTHERFORD CO. RUTHERFORDTON NC
RUTHERFORD HOSPITAL RUTHERFORDTON NC
BUCK POWER PLANT SALISBURY NC
CANNON TEXTILE MILL SALISBURY NC
NORTH CAROLINA FINISHING COMPANY SALISBURY NC
PIEDMONT INSULATION, INC. SALISBURY NC
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL SALISBURY NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT SANFORD NC
CELANESE FIBER PLANT SHELBY NC
FIBER INDUSTRIES SHELBY NC
PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS CO - FIBERGLAS DIVISION SHELBY NC
PPG INDUSTRIES SHELBY NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT SKYLAND NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT CO - SKYLAND PLANT SKYLAND NC
BURLINGTON TEXTILE MILL SMITHFIELD NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT SOUTH PORT NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - BUCK POWER PLANT SPENCER NC
SOUTHERN RAILROAD SPENCER NC
ELMORE CORP. TEXTILE MILL SPINDALE NC
SPINDALE MILLS SPINDALE NC
COWANS FORD PLANT STANLEY NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - COWANS FORD PLANT STANLEY NC
GASTON COUNTY DYEING MACHINE CO STANLEY NC
J P STEVENS COMPANY STANLEY NC
INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO STATESVILLE NC
MEAD PAPER MILL SYLVA NC
ANACONDA WIRE & CABLE CO. TARBORO NC
CARATELL PAPER BOARD CORP TAYLORS NC
DUKE POWER COMPANY - MARSHALL POWER PLANT TERRELL NC
FARMERS CHEMICAL PLANT TUNIS NC
POTTER-SHACKELFORD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY WAGRAM NC
RICHMOND MILL WAGRAM NC
SCOTLAND MILL WAGRAM NC
SPRING COTTON MILLS WAGRAM NC
SPRINGS INDUSTRIES, INC. WAGRAM NC
SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY WAKE FOREST NC
BELEWS CREEK POWER PLANT WALNUT GROVE NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT - PHARR SHOALS WAYNESBORO NC
DAYCO PRODUCTS WAYNESVILLE NC
C. E. THURSTON & SONS, INC. WEEKSVILLE NC
AMBROSE INSULATION CO WEST CHARLOTTE NC
PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS CO WEST SHELBY NC
PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS CO - FIBERGLAS DIV WEST SHELBY NC
WEYERHAUSER PAPER MILL WEYCO NC
ALLIED CHEMICAL WILMINGTON NC
BABCOCK & WILCOX COMPANY WILMINGTON NC
CAROLINA POWER & LIGHT SUTTON POWER PLANT WILMINGTON NC
CHEVRON ASPHALT COMPANY WILMINGTON NC
DUPONT CHEMICAL. CAPE FEAR PLANT WILMINGTON NC
GENERAL ELECTRIC WILMINGTON NC
HERCULES, INC. WILMINGTON NC
LIBERTY SHIP WILMINGTON NC
LONGLEY SUPPLY COMPANY WILMINGTON NC
MILL AND CONTRACTORS SUPPLY COMPANY WILMINGTON NC
NORTH CAROLINA SHIPBUILDING & DRYDOCK WILMINGTON NC
SWIFT & CO. WILMINGTON NC
TEXTILE FIBERS DEPARTMENT - CAPE FEAR PLANT WILMINGTON NC
WILMINGTON CHEMICAL TERMINAL, INC. WILMINGTON NC
WILMINGTON CHEMICAL TERMINALS, INC. WILMINGTON NC
WILMINGTON TERMINAL WILMINGTON NC
COVIL INSULATION COMPANY WILSON NC
MERCK SHARPE & DOHME PHARMACEUTICALS WILSON NC
RALSTON PURINA CO WILSON NC
HANES DYE & FINISHING CO WINSTON SALEM NC
HANES HOSIERY WINSTON SALEM NC
R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. WINSTON SALEM NC
SCHLITZ BREWERY WINSTON SALEM NC
WESTERN ELECTRIC CO. WINSTON SALEM NC
BAILEY POWER PLANT WINSTON-SALEM NC
WINSTON-SALEM STATE COLLEGE WINSTON-SALEM NC
SALINE WATER CONVERSION PLANT WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH NC
Mesothelioma Deaths & Asbestosis in North Carolina
In 2004 a public interest group released a study of the asbestos related deaths in the United States during the period from 1979 to 2000. The study had limited access to employment records of the people whose deaths they tallied, but there is a direct correlation between heavily industrialized states and deaths from asbestosis and mesothelioma. In North Carolina over the period that was studied there were 503 deaths attributed to asbestosis. The mesothelioma deaths in North Carolina were estimated to be between 534 and 917. Some instances of death due to pleural mesothelioma were probably recorded as due to more ordinary lung cancer.
In 1999 the federal government began tracking mesothelioma deaths to determine if they were rising or falling on an annual basis. During the period between 1999 and the end of 2004 there were 325 deaths in North Carolina attributed to mesothelioma.
Cancer Care in North Carolina
North Carolina has three federally recognized comprehensive cancer centers dedicated to both research and medical care. There are forty-one such designated facilities in the country.
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
102 Mason Farm Rd.,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295
Tel: (919) 966-3036
Fax: (919) 966-3015
Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center
Duke University Medical Center
Durham, North Carolina 27710
Tel: (919) 684-5613
Fax: (919) 684-5653
Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center
Wake Forest University
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1082
Tel: (336) 716-7971
Fax: (336) 716-0293
