Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used in Navy ships in pipe insulation, fireproofing, floor tiles and other construction materials. It was also used in boilers and engines for ships as well as aircraft and vehicle brakes and clutches.
Service personnel exposed to asbestos in bases in the military could be suffering from mesothelioma or other health issues. This includes Army personnel, Air Force personnel and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
The most at-risk group was the Navy veterans because of the widespread use of asbestos in ships and shipyards. Asbestos was also present in those who were involved in the construction, repair, or demolition of naval vessels, as well as on vessels.
Asbestos was a popular choice for Navy ship construction because it could provide insulation against heat, fire and water. It was used in the hull, engine rooms boiler rooms, and other mechanical areas on Navy ships. 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 around ships. This includes those who were laggers on Navy vessels (insulators) and mechanics' mates who fixed engines and equipment that contained asbestos packing, as as damage control workers who perform firefighting and rescue in the event of an hostile attack.
Asbest can pose a danger for those who serve in the Coast Guard, as many of the ships used by the military contain asbestos. This was mainly because asbestos was a cost-effective and fireproof material that insulated against the heat and cold. It was used in many Navy ships and a variety military aircrafts, vehicles, and barracks.
Asbestos veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may seek compensation from the VA through their disability compensation system. However an asbestos exposure summary is required to prove that the condition was connected to military service. This includes when and where the individual was exposed and the specific roles he or was involved in. It is also necessary to prove that at least 50% of the veteran's asbestos exposure occurred during their military service.
Air Force
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally with unique properties that make it an ideal choice for military construction projects. It is fire-resistant electrical, heat, and chemical corrosion resistant and extremely affordable to purchase and use. It was utilized in the military from 1940 to the 1990s. In the process, veterans from all branches of the military were exposed to asbestos at high levels. Air Force veterans who served during this time are at a greater risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military, constructed its bases using asbestos-containing materials. The noxious material was used in pipes and boilers along with other insulation products throughout bases. The airmen were exposed to asbestos while they lived in bases, or visited them like mess halls, hospitals, and areas for shops. Asbestos is a remarkably fine and scaly material, which means that the dust it generates is easily transported from one place to the next. Personnel such as mechanics electricians and custodians could easily carry asbestos fibers in their clothing and hair from one place to another.
Airmen who worked on aircraft, such as welders and mechanics, were at a high risk of exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause damage to the tissues of the lungs, which can lead to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the chest cavity and lungs. It can cause serious symptoms.
To learn about their legal rights, asbestos victims should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. An attorney can help a veteran or their family file a lawsuit against the manufacturers who produced and sold the toxic products that caused their exposure to mesothelioma. The lawsuits seek compensation from companies that put profits over safety.
Army
Army veterans who served between World War II and the 1970s may have been exposed to asbestos during their military service. These men and women are at risk of developing aggressive forms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses late in life.
Soldiers may have been exposed asbestos in barracks and bases which contained asbestos. Asbestos, a fire-resistant and durable building material was popular at the time. It was also very affordable.
The Army used asbestos to make various products, including pipe insulation, spray-on fireproofing, and flooring materials. Those products were used to build and repair many types of vehicles and equipment including ships, tanks and cars.
Asbestos-related diseases can take years to develop, which is why many veterans were diagnosed long after their active military service. In the course of war, troops sent in combat zones faced additional asbestos exposure dangers. These sites had asbestos-containing buildings which were destroyed or bombed, releasing toxic fibers into the air. This kind of exposure happened at bases in the United States as well as ports and other locations overseas.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases resulting from their military service have the right to file an VA disability claim. The amount of compensation is contingent on the severity of the veteran's health condition and the amount they were exposed to asbestos while an active member of the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs will not compensate veterans who have mesothelioma, if the disease was not directly linked to their military service. Instead, the agency offers monthly compensation to veterans who are eligible based on the standards for disability set by the agency. The money is used to cover medical expenses, living expenses and other needs related to the disease.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos through military ships, bases, vehicles and aircraft. Marine vehicle mechanics, as well as those who worked on transport vehicles, such as the M60 Patton Tank, were at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure. These veterans were exposed to asbestos gaskets, brake pads, and seals on vehicles. When these materials became degraded or were damaged, they would release asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaling the fibers can cause asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma.
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s are also at risk. Asbestos was often used in Navy ship components such as incinerators and boilers to protect them class action lawsuit asbestos exposure from fire and excessive heat. These components typically were not ventilated, and asbestos fibers could circulate throughout the compartments of the ship. When the insulation deteriorated or wore away, it would release fibers into the air. Air force veterans could also be at risk of exposure. Asbestos was used to insulate military aircraft, and it was also found in rotors and engine parts as well as hydraulic systems, fuel systems, systems, and fuel systems.
In 1994, Marine Corps introduced an asbestos safety program that was OSHA-compliant. Prior to 1994, asbestos was removed in hundreds of Marine bases and barracks, as well as mechanical shops. The work was typically performed by untrained teams of enlisted men.
Marines exposed to asbestos can develop serious health issues such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Veterans with these illnesses are advised to seek specialized medical attention at a VA Hospital or one of the top mesothelioma treatment facilities. It is important to know that mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods. This means that symptoms typically don't manifest until decades after exposure.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard used asbestos to insulate vessels and to fireproof them. Veterans of the Coast Guard who worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard are at greater 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 has also been found in the insulation and piping of numerous Coast Guard vessels. Veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases because of their prolonged exposure to asbestos-containing toxic materials.
Like Navy and Air Force veterans, Coast Guard veterans may have been exposed to asbestos frequently on ships and shipyards. They were able to perform missions of search and rescue, and defended the environment. They also protected U.S. coasts and waterways. Due to the duties of the branch it's not surprising that asbestos was found in Coast Guard ships and at military bases.
Veterans of the Coast Guard are eligible for VA benefits that can aid in the cost of medical treatment in the event of asbestos-related diseases. Due to the long mesothelioma's latency it is essential that patients be diagnosed as quickly as possible.
Army veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma due to their frequent exposures to military vehicles, planes and barracks. Asbestos was a major component of military equipment due to the fact that it was affordable and offered insulation and fire resistance. After new uses of asbestos were banned in the 1980s, hundreds of military zones remained with old asbestos in pipe insulation roof tiles, cement sheets and floor tiles. This "legacy" asbestos was a source of danger to soldiers.
Veterans may be entitled to legal assistance to obtain compensation from asbestos manufacturers, regardless of the field of service they served. While nothing can take away a veteran's mesothelioma, financial assistance can provide a sense of stability for families that are in a need of help.