A campaigner for sawmill workers says anyone who worked in a mill from the 1970's to the early 1990's should sign up now for a free health check.
The Ministry of Health is offering support for workers who were exposed to dioxins from an anti-sapstain solution used to treat sawn timber.
A Massey University study has shown that workers heavily exposed to the chemical, pentachlorophenol or PCP, have a 40% higher risk of dying of cancers, and have higher levels of other disease.
Nikora Curtis, who founded the Sawmill Workers Against Poisons group says more than 7000 men may be affected, from Whakatane to the West Coast.
