Navy Ships and Asbestos
Due to its unique qualities, asbestos has been used since ancient times. By World War II, this naturally occurring mineral was commercially used on large scale. The fireproofing and insulating properties of asbestos made it a popular material in various industries. The US Navy employed asbestos-containing materials in its shipyards, cruisers, and submarines. Resistant to heat and corrosion, it seemed an ideal material to insulate boilers, deck doors, and pipes. Hundreds of products containing asbestos have been used in ships during the early and mid-20th century.
Inhalation of Asbestos
Asbestos is a broad term that refers to six naturally-occurring minerals that are resistant to fire, heat, and chemical substances. This material has been commercially used since the late 1800s. The construction industry has used asbestos for manufacturing cement and plastics, as well as for sound absorption, fire proofing, and insulation. In the shipbuilding industry, asbestos was used for insulating steam pipes and boilers.
This material can be found in a large number of products such as textured paints, floor and ceiling tiles, brake shoes, heating and cooling systems, small kitchen appliances, and fireproofing materials. In the marine industry, it was primarily used in the materials located in engine and boiler rooms. All naval ships built before the 1970s contain asbestos. Many of the sailors who worked on naval shipyards have been exposed to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time. Virtually no area of a ship built between the 1940s and 1970s was without asbestos.
Mesothelioma cancer and other deadly diseases associated with asbestos exposure take more than 20 years to develop. Those who were exposed to asbestos containing products on a constant basis are now diagnosed with lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural disorders. If inhaled, asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs. In some cases, they make their way to the heart or abdominal cavity.
Asbestos fibers can also be released from soils or rocks by human activities. While lung cancer and asbestosis manifest themselves 15 years or more after the initial exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma patients show the first symptoms of cancer 20 to 50 years after exposure.
Asbestos in the Marine Industry
Shipyard workers and sailors face a high risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos insulation was used not only for pipes, nuclear reactors, boilers, and fireproof doors, but throughout old turbine steam ships and between decks. The risk of developing malignant mesothelioma and other rare diseases increases with longer exposure time. Studies indicate that more than 86 percent of those who have worked for over 20 years on shipyards have developed asbestos-related diseases.
Thousands of people who have worked on naval and commercial shipyards until the 1970s are now suffering from asbestos cancer. This material was heavily used on battleships, escort ships, aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, hospital ships, and frigates. Some naval ships are still using asbestos containing materials. Approximately 30 percent of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year involve Navy veterans. Nearly every area of a ship where sailors worked, slept, or ate contained asbestos. Some people have developed mesothelioma after being crew members of one of these ships for less than three years.
Health Risks Associated with Exposure to Asbestos
Malignant mesothelioma is an untreatable form of cancer that that affect the protective lining surrounding the heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity. This deadly disease causes anemia, fever, shortness of breath, hoarseness, blood in the sputum, jaundice, accumulation of fluid in the lungs or abdomen, blood clots in the veins, problems with bowel function, and persistent coughing. When mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, it causes palpitations, arrhythmia, night sweats, severe chest pain, and muscle weakness.
Asbestosis is a deadly condition caused by asbestos exposure. This disease affects both lungs simultaneously, causing lung cancer, shortness of breath, decreased lung elasticity, lung fibrosis, and respirator failure. From 1968 to 2005, more than 9,000 people in the United States have died from asbestosis. This breathing disorder is very common among Navy veterans, former shipyard workers, pipe fitters, welders, electricians, boilermakers, and machinists. Exposure to asbestos may also cause pleural thickening, calcification, and plaques.
If you have worked on a Navy ship that used asbestos containing products, check whether you are eligible for VA benefits or other forms of financial compensation. Carl Jewett, a retired LCDR (O-4) in the US Navy, is dedicated to help veterans obtain the benefits for which they are entitled. To find out more about mesothelioma causes and symptoms, complete the form below.