Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used in Navy ships for pipe insulation as well as fireproofing, floor tiles and other construction materials. It was also used in ship engines, boilers, vehicle and aircraft brakes, and clutches.
Service members exposed to asbestos at military bases may have developed mesothelioma or other health issues. These veterans include Army, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
Navy veterans were at the highest risk of asbestos exposure because of the material's widespread use in ships and shipyard buildings. Asbestos was also found in those who participated in the construction, repair or demolishment of naval vessels, as well as on ships.
Asbestos was a popular choice for Navy ship construction as it could provide insulation against heat, fire and water. It was used in the hulls of Navy ships and also in boiler rooms, engine rooms, and other mechanical areas. It was also employed in industrial compound, cabin insulation, and plumbing fixtures.
Many Navy veterans have developed mesothelioma due to these uses after working near or on ships. This includes those who were employed as laggers (insulators) on Navy ships as well as machinist's mates that fix engine components and machinery which contained asbestos packing and damage control workers who perform firefighting and rescue tasks in the event of an enemy attack.
Asbest can pose a danger for those who serve in the Coast Guard, as many of the ships used by the military have asbestos. This was mainly because asbestos was a cost-effective, fireproof material that could withstand the elements of heat and cold. It was utilized on a number of the Navy's vessels as well as a variety of the military's vehicles, aircrafts and barracks.
Asbestos veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses can seek compensation from the VA through their disability compensation system. However, a written asbestos exposure summary is necessary to show how the condition was connected to military service. This includes when and where the individual was exposed and what specific roles he she served in. It is also necessary to prove that at least half of the veteran's exposure to asbestos was during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, a mineral that is of natural origin, has unique properties that make it useful in military construction projects. It is fire resistant electrical, heat, and chemical corrosion resistant, and very inexpensive to buy and use. It was utilized in the military from 1940 to the 1990s. This led to a high rate of exposure to asbestos for veterans from all branches. Air Force veterans who served during this time are at a higher chance of developing asbestos-related ailments like mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military, built bases using asbestos-containing material. The toxic substance was used in pipes and boilers, and other insulation products throughout bases. Airmen were exposed to asbestos when they lived in bases, or visited them including mess halls, hospitals, and areas for shops. Asbestos is an extremely smooth and soft material, which means that the dust it creates can easily be transported from one place to another. Custodians, electricians, mechanics and other workers may carry asbestos fibers from one area of the building to another on their clothes and hair.
Airmen who worked on aircrafts including welders, mechanics, and mechanics, were at a high risk of being exposed to asbestos. Inhaling the fibers could cause damage to the lung's tissues, which can cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity, and can cause serious symptoms and complications.
Asbestos victims should speak to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer in order to discuss their legal options. A lawyer can assist a veteran or their family bring a lawsuit against manufacturers who made and sold the harmful products that exposed them to mesothelioma. These lawsuits seek to recover compensation from companies that put profits over safety.
Army
Asbest was most likely used by veterans of the Army who served from World War II to the 1970s. Both women and men are at risk for developing aggressive forms mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses later in life.
Soldiers could have been exposed to asbestos in barracks and bases that contained asbestos. Asbestos was a popular building material at the time because it was fireproof and durable. It was also inexpensive.
The Army employed asbestos to create various products that included pipe insulation, fireproofing spray-on and flooring materials. These products were used in the construction and repair of many kinds of vehicles, 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 further asbestos exposure risks. These sites often had buildings made of asbestos, which were bombed or destroyed, releasing the toxic fibers into the air. This type of exposure also happened at bases in the United States, as well as at ports and other locations in other countries.
Veterans who are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service, are entitled to make an VA disability claim. Compensation is contingent upon the degree of the condition and how much the person was exposed to asbestos while an active member of the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not pay compensation to veterans with mesothelioma if the condition was not directly related to their service in the military. Instead, the agency provides monthly payments to veterans who are eligible based on set disability standards. The compensation can be used to pay for medical expenses, living costs and other expenses that are related to the illness.
Marines
Marines may have been exposed to asbestos through bases, military ships vehicles, aircraft and bases. Marine vehicle mechanics and those who worked on transport vehicles such as the M60 Patton Tank, were most at risk of asbestos exposure. They were frequently exposed to asbestos gaskets, seals and brake pads on vehicles. When these materials deteriorated or became damaged, they released asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaling the fibers can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Navy veterans who served prior to the 1980s are also at risk. Asbestos was often used in Navy ship components like incinerators and boilers to protect them from fire and extreme heat. These components typically were not ventilated, and asbestos fibers would circulate through the ship's compartments. As insulation deteriorated, fibers would be released into the air. Air force veterans could also be at risk of being exposed. Asbestos was used to insulate military aircrafts and was found in rotors, engine parts fuel systems, hydraulic systems.
In 1994, the Marine Corps introduced an asbestos safety program that was OSHA compliant. Prior to that, there were hundreds of Marine barracks, base facilities and mechanical shops where asbestos removal haphazardly performed. The work was typically performed by untrained teams of enlisted men.
Marines exposed to asbestos can develop serious health issues like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Veterans suffering from these diseases need to seek out specialized treatment at a VA hospital or top mesothelioma centers. It is crucial to understand that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses have long period of latency. This means that symptoms don't typically show up until decades after exposure to asbestos.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was used throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and protect vessels from fire. Coast Guard veterans who served at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard were at particular risk of exposure. 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 present in the piping, insulation and other building materials of numerous Coast Guard ships. Due to their long-term exposure to asbestos-containing materials, these veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases.
As with the Navy and Air Force veterans, Coast Guard veterans could have been exposed to asbestos frequently in shipyards and on ships. They conducted search and rescue missions as well as protected the environment and defended U.S. coastlines and waterways. It's not a surprise due to the responsibility of the branch that asbestos was found in Coast Guard ships and military bases.
Veterans of the Coast Guard are eligible for VA benefits that will aid in the cost of medical treatment if they develop asbestos-related illnesses. Due to the long mesothelioma's latency it is essential that patients receive a diagnosis as soon as they can.
Veterans of the army are at risk of mesothelioma because of their frequent exposure to military vehicles, aircraft and barracks. Torrance asbestos lawyers was utilized in military equipment because of its low cost, fire resistance and insulation properties. In the 1980s, asbestos was prohibited for use in new ways. However, asbestos-containing pipe insulation, cement sheets floor tiles, floor tiles and roof tiles were still in a variety of military zones. This "legacy asbestos" protected the risk for soldiers.
Regardless of what military branch veterans were part of, they could be eligible for legal aid to obtain compensation from asbestos producers. Although financial aid won't cure mesothelioma in veterans, it can offer some peace to families struggling.