Shipyards and Asbestos
The 20th century saw the increased use of a mineral called asbestos because of its versatile properties including its resistance to high heat and fire. Shipbuilders were among those that used asbestos and asbestos-containing materials the most because of the constant threat of fire aboard ships and even on shipyards. Up until the asbestos ban of the 1970s, over 300 products and parts containing the naturally-occurring mineral were used on shipyards and naval ships. It put thousands of veterans at risk for exposure to asbestos fiber which has been known to cause the development of several serious health issues including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ban of asbestos use in the 1970s was only for new construction, which meant ships built before the ban, remain in use. If no alternative materials can be found that offer the same level of heat-resistance that asbestos can, some naval yards will still use asbestos.
Shipyards, Navy Ships and Asbestos Use
Nearly every vital component of vessels for the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy contained asbestos materials. The use of asbestos was not limited to just one particular type of ship as everything from small frigates and patrol boats all the way up to aircraft carriers, battleships and submarines all contained the deadly material. The highest level of asbestos concentration was found on transport ships and auxiliary ships for both the Coast Guard and the Navy.
Asbestos and asbestos-containing materials could be found in virtually every sector of the ships. Everywhere that Navy personnel, sailors and officers spent down time, slept, ate and worked, asbestos could be found. Asbestos was in the mess halls, sleeping quarters, boiler rooms and more. The mineral was also used to insulate a number of different equipment and machinery as well as moving parts aboard the ships. Pipes, electrical wiring, gaskets and even bedding materials all contained asbestos. Since asbestos could shaped and molded to form virtually any shape one could think of, it was used throughout the ships and shipyards for many different purposes.
The use of asbestos was not limited solely to the ships and vessels themselves. Shipbuilders and shipyard workers also used asbestos on the shipyards and docks located across the United States. Since the construction industry also used asbestos-containing materials for their work and to construct buildings and structures, asbestos could be found everywhere ships were docked. Some of the tools and protective clothing used by shipyard workers, including Navy personnel, all contained asbestos.
Shipyards had a few different responsibilities when it came to vessels; two of the most common were shipbuilding and ship repair. Both of these duties caused thousands of workers and Navy personnel to be exposed to asbestos. Shipyard workers would construct the ships using asbestos-containing materials, but so would those that needed to repair ships. Asbestos was sprayed onto ships and used as insulation for various parts. All of this work meant that asbestos would oftentimes have to be taken apart, taken down or broken up in order for repairs to continue.
Asbestos Risk
Alone, asbestos does not pose a high threat to humans; however, if it becomes friable (easily breakable), it can deadly. Friable asbestos can occur several different ways. Old or dated asbestos used aboard ships, on the shipyards or on the docks can become friable over time. If a ship comes under attack, is hit or a fire breaks out, this can force the asbestos to become friable as well since it is disturbed. During repairs, shipyard workers often have to chisel, drill or otherwise break parts of the ship to make way for new parts and repairs - all of this can make asbestos friable.
Friable asbestos is extremely harmful because if damaged or disturbed, it can release tiny, sharp fibers into the air. Anyone aboard a ship, working on the docks or shipyards that come into contact with these fibers - which tend to look like a fine dust - can then ingest or inhale the fibers. Once inside the body, the fibers embed themselves in the lining of vital organs that can eventually cause a number of diseases. Repeated exposure to asbestos, especially to high amounts of it, can lead to the development of deadly diseases such as mesothelioma. Additionally, the dust can stick to hair and clothing and then carried home, putting loved ones at risk for exposure as well. If you or anyone you know was in the Navy or worked in or around naval ships, see a doctor.