Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a component used in the construction of Navy ships for pipe insulation, fireproofing and floor tiles. It was also a component in ship engines and boilers, and vehicle and aircraft brakes and clutches.
Some veterans may have developed mesothelioma or another health problems. These veterans include Army personnel, Air Force personnel and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
The most at-risk group were Navy veterans because of the widespread use of asbestos in ships and shipyards. Those exposed to asbestos included those working in the building, repair or demolition of naval vessels and those who performed day-to-day services on vessels.
Asbestos was a well-known choice for Navy ship construction as it could provide insulation against heat, fire and water. It was employed in the hulls of Navy ships and also in boiler rooms, engine rooms, and other mechanical areas. It was also used in plumbing fixtures and adhesives, industrial compounds, and cabin insulation.
Due to these uses, many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma after working on or within ships. This includes those who were laggers on Navy vessels (insulators) as well as machinists' mates who fixed engine components and machinery containing asbestos packing, as well as damage control workers, who are responsible for rescue and firefighting in the event of an hostile attack.
Asbest is also a risk for those who serve in the Coast Guard, as many of the ships used by the military contain asbestos. The main reason for this was the fact that asbestos was a cheap and fireproof material which insulated against cold and heat. It was used on a variety of the Navy's ships and a variety of the military's aircrafts, vehicles and barracks.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma can apply for compensation through the VA's disability compensation system. However, a written asbestos exposure summary is required to demonstrate how the illness was related to military service. This includes the location and time the individual was exposed to asbestos, and the specific role they played in. It must also show that at least 50% of the exposure to asbestos was during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, which is a mineral that is of natural origin, has distinct properties that make it a valuable resource in military construction projects. It is resistant to fire and durable and is insulated from electrical and heat as well as chemical corrosion, and is very affordable to purchase and use. It was used throughout the military from 1940 to the 1990s. This led to a high rate of asbestos exposure among veterans of all branches. Air Force veterans who served during this period are particularly at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military, built bases with asbestos-containing materials. The toxic material was used in pipes and boilers, along with other insulation products throughout bases. Redding asbestos lawsuits exposed airmen to asbestos while they lived in bases, or visited them including mess halls, hospitals and areas for shops. Asbestos is a remarkably delicate and scaly substance, which means that the dust it creates can easily be smuggled from one location to the next. Personnel such as mechanics, electricians and custodians are able to carry asbestos fibers on their clothing and hair from one location to another.
Airmen who worked on aircraft like welders and mechanics, were also at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause damage to the tissues of the lungs and lead to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity, and can lead to serious symptoms and complications.
Asbestos victims should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer in order to find out more about their legal options. A lawyer can help the family of a veteran to file a lawsuit against manufacturers who made and sold the harmful products that exposed them to mesothelioma. These lawsuits seek compensation from companies who put profit over safety.
Army
Asbest was most likely used by Army veterans who served from World War II to the 1970s. These men and women are at risk of developing aggressive mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life.
Soldiers may have been exposed to asbestos in bases, barracks and ships that contained the material. Asbestos, a fire-resistant and durable building material, was a popular choice at the time. It was also affordable.
The Army used asbestos in a variety products including pipe insulation, fireproofing sprays, and flooring materials. Those products were used to construct and repair a variety of vehicles and equipment, including ships, tanks and cars.
Asbestos-related diseases can take years to develop. Many veterans were diagnosed many years after their active service. During wartime, troops in combat zones were exposed to additional asbestos-related risks. These areas often had structures built with asbestos that were destroyed or bombed in order to release the harmful fibers into the air. This kind of exposure also was observed at bases in the United States, as well as at ports and other sites overseas.
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service have the right to make a VA disability claim. The amount of compensation will be determined by the severity of the condition, and the amount of asbestos exposure he or she experienced as a military member. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not compensate veterans who have mesothelioma, if the disease was not directly related to their service in the military. Instead, the organization offers monthly compensation to veterans who qualify based on set disability standards. The money can be used for medical expenses, living expenses and other requirements associated with the disease.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos through bases, military ships vehicles, aircraft and bases. People who worked as Marine mechanics on vehicles and transport vehicles like the M60 Patton tank ran the greatest chance of being exposed. They were exposed to asbestos gaskets, brake pads and seals on vehicles. Asbestos fibers were released into air as these materials degraded. The fibers could be breathed in by those living in the vicinity and lead to the development of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related disease.
Navy veterans who served prior to the 1980s are also at risk. Asbestos was often utilized in Navy ship components, such as boilers and incinerators to guard them from fire and extreme heat. Asbestos fibers were able to circulate through the compartments of the ship because these parts had poor ventilation. As the insulation degraded the fibers would release into the air. Air Force veterans may also be exposed. Asbestos was used to insulate military aircrafts and was found in rotors, engine parts fuel systems, and hydraulic systems.
In 1994 in 1994, the Marine Corps implemented an OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program for asbestos. Prior to 1994, asbestos was removed in hundreds of Marine base facilities and barracks and mechanical shops. The work was typically performed by untrained crews of men in the enlisted ranks.
Asbestos exposure among Marines can lead to a variety of serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Veterans diagnosed with these illnesses should seek treatment that is specialized at a VA hospital or top mesothelioma centers. It is vital to be aware that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, have long latency times. This means that symptoms don't usually appear until decades after the initial exposure.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was used throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and fireproof vessels. The veterans of the Coast Guard who worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard are at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos. The yard was home to more than 100 asbestos-contaminated shipbuilding and repair buildings, including barracks, a hangar and an engine shop. Asbestos was also found in the insulation, piping and other building materials of many Coast Guard ships. These veterans are at a high risk for developing mesothelioma, asbestosis and other respiratory ailments because of their prolonged exposure to toxic asbestos-containing materials.
Similar to the Navy and Air Force, Coast Guard veterans could have experienced routine exposure to asbestos on vessels and in shipyards. They were able to perform search and rescue missions and defended the environment. They also protected U.S. coasts and waterways. It is not surprising due to the responsibility of the branch that asbestos was discovered in Coast Guard ships and military bases.
Veterans of the Coast Guard are eligible for VA benefits that will assist in the payment of medical expenses when they suffer from asbestos-related ailments. It is crucial to identify mesothelioma as early as possible due to its long latency period.
Army veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of their frequent exposures to military vehicles, planes and barracks. Asbestos was a key component of military equipment due to the fact that it was affordable and offered insulation and fire resistance. As asbestos' new uses were prohibited in the 1980s, hundreds of military facilities remained covered with old asbestos in pipe insulation, roof tiles, cement sheets, and floor tiles. This "legacy" asbestos was a source of danger to soldiers.
No matter what branch of the military veterans were part of, they could be eligible for legal aid to obtain compensation from asbestos producers. Although nothing can erase mesothelioma in a veteran but financial assistance could provide some stability for families that are in a crisis.