Navy Veterans and mesothelioma
Thousands of Navy veterans were knowingly put at risk for exposure to a naturally-occurring mineral called asbestos for much of the 20th century. Although all branches of the military were exposed to asbestos at one time or another, including the Army, Marines and Air Force, the Navy was the hardest hit of all. Many of the military-related mesothelioma cases have come from Navy veterans.
The connection between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma is undeniable. Research into the causes behind the development of such diseases as lung cancer and mesothelioma in particular has concluded that asbestos is the main, if not sole cause. The U.S. Navy surgeon general gave his annual address in 1939 in which he discussed the health hazards of asbestosis, but those in command ignored the message. There was also plenty of emerging evidence that asbestos caused long-term health issues. However, that information was lost amid the rush to get effective and affordable material to protect and insulate submarines, ships and other vessels being built for successive wars, including World War II, Korean War and the Vietnam War. The wars took precedence over Navy personnel health problems.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
There were a number of different ways for Navy veterans to have been exposed to asbestos. The use of asbestos-containing materials was not banned until the 1970s by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, ships and other vessels that were built prior to the ban remain in use even today. This means that thousands of Navy veterans were at risk for exposure.
Asbestos was used in hundreds of applications by ship builders because of the mineral's versatile properties allowing it to withstand extremely high temperatures, including fire, as well as toxic chemicals. The naturally-occurring mineral is also very flexible and strong, allowing ship builders to form asbestos into virtually any shape. Any place that needed to be able to withstand fire or high heat, such as weapons and ammunition storage rooms, engine rooms, boiler rooms and much more all contained asbestos. But it did not end there; asbestos could be found generally everywhere. It was in the navigation rooms, sleeping quarters, mess halls, decks and more. Asbestos-containing materials were also used on a variety of machinery and equipment that included condensers, motors, pumps, pipes, valves, gaskets and cables. It could even be found in the flooring and ceiling tiles.
All facets of the ship industry put Navy personnel and sailors at risk for exposure. Naval buildings on land, renovation or repairs on ships, demolitions and construction all put people at risk. When asbestos becomes friable (easily breakable), it releases tiny, sharp fibers into the air that can then be ingested or inhaled by anyone in its vicinity. Asbestos can become friable in a few different ways. If there is a disturbance in closed quarters, the asbestos can become friable and then personnel can inhale the fibers. If there is a fire onboard the ship or if the ship is hit with any weapon, the disturbance can cause the asbestos to come loose and become friable.
Personnel often reported having to sleep beneath pipes insulated with asbestos and then constantly shaking dust off. Those that worked beneath the deck were at an even higher risk for exposure because fires would constantly break out. The fibers that Navy personnel came into contact with would stick on their clothes and hair, which meant sailors, officers and personnel would carry asbestos and expose loved ones as well.
When the fibers are inhaled or ingested, they travel through the body directly for vital organs, embedding themselves in the lining. The chest cavity and abdomen are the most common areas of the body that are affected by asbestos fibers. If a person is exposed continuously and over a long period of time, the fibers in the lining can eventually turn cancerous and cause mesothelioma. There is no current cure for mesothelioma and the symptoms do not surface often for decades after exposure, which makes the disease difficult to diagnose.
Help for Veterans
There is hope for Navy veterans and their family members. If caught early enough, there are breakthrough treatments that can elongate a person's life expectancy and in some rare cases, beat the disease. It is important to see a doctor if you or a loved one believes they were exposed. This way, a proper diagnosis can be conducted and the right treatments can be given. Exposed Navy veterans are also eligible for compensation for their suffering.