Midland Area Exposure Map
Documented Exposure Sites
| # | Facility | Industry | Active Period | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dow Chemical Midland Campus | Chemical Manufacturing | 1897–present | Critical |
| 2 | Dow Corning Midland | Silicone / Chemical Manufacturing | 1943–present | High |
| 3 | Consumers Energy Midland Nuclear Plant | Nuclear / Power Generation | 1984–present | Moderate |
Dow Chemical Midland Campus
Dow Chemical Company was founded in Midland, Michigan in 1897 and built its manufacturing headquarters on the Tittabawassee River. The Midland campus grew to become one of the largest integrated chemical manufacturing sites in North America, producing chlorine, caustic soda, plastics, agricultural chemicals, and specialty materials. Chemical manufacturing facilities like Dow’s Midland complex required extensive asbestos insulation — on high-temperature reactors, steam lines, heat exchangers, and distillation columns. Workers in maintenance, insulation, and pipe trades who worked throughout the plant’s process units had the heaviest asbestos exposure. Additionally, Dow Corning Corporation — a joint venture with Corning Glass Works — operated an adjacent Midland facility manufacturing silicone materials, also with significant asbestos use in high-temperature process equipment.
Mesothelioma claims from former Dow Chemical and Dow Corning Midland workers have been filed in Midland County Circuit Court and, in some cases, Wayne County (Detroit). Dow Chemical has been a named defendant in mesothelioma litigation involving its Midland facilities, and manufacturers of asbestos insulation products used at the campus — including major insulation brands whose products were applied to Dow’s reactors and pipelines — are also subject to trust fund claims. Former Dow Chemical workers, contract insulators who worked at the plant on a project basis, and maintenance employees who disturbed existing asbestos insulation during plant turnarounds may all have viable claims regardless of whether they were direct Dow employees or contractors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Dow Chemical’s Midland campus required extensive asbestos insulation throughout its chemical manufacturing operations — on reactors, steam lines, heat exchangers, and process equipment operating at high temperatures. Pipefitters, insulators, and maintenance workers who serviced these systems had the highest direct exposure. Dow Chemical has been a named defendant in mesothelioma litigation, and manufacturers of asbestos insulation products used at the Midland campus are also subject to trust fund claims.
Midland County Circuit Court handles cases filed locally, but many Midland mesothelioma claimants also have the option to file in Wayne County Circuit Court (Detroit), which handles the largest volume of Michigan asbestos cases. Michigan’s 3-year statute of limitations under MCL 600.5805 provides somewhat more time than many states, but contact an attorney promptly — the 3 years starts at diagnosis, and building a strong case against a large chemical company like Dow requires time to gather employment records, plant diagrams, and expert testimony on exposure levels.