Mesothelioma Navy

The proud members of the U.S. Navy have sailed to every corner of the world aboard the excellent vessels built in the shipyards of America. These individuals live aboard their appointed ships for months at a time, defending their country when needed and performing the everyday duties that are expected of them as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Navy ships are never more active than during war time. During the Second World War, especially, shipbuilding was at its peak and the ships constructed at the many yards on both coasts were the pride of the armed forces. However, most of them harbored a secret killer – asbestos.

Asbestos exposure on Navy ships was rampant because asbestos was widely used in nearly all the vessels built for the U.S. military, especially during World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War.

Asbestos, before warnings were issued about its use in the late 70s, was considered a prime insulator, able to resist high temperatures and prevent fires from occurring. This was an especially desirable property for any material that was used in shipbuilding and, therefore, asbestos found its way into nearly every room/compartment on all kinds of military ships, from aircraft carriers and cruisers to battleships and submarines.

The toxic mineral was used extensively in places where high temperatures were the norm, such as engine and boiler rooms, where it insulated equipment, pipes, and wires. But it also found its way into other parts of the ship as well, and may have been used in walls, floors, or ceilings in sleeping quarters, mess halls, the galley, navigation areas, and other places where sailors regularly spent their time, even when they were off duty.

The result of this rampant asbestos exposure has been the diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases in many veterans, often decades after they completed their stint in the service. Diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma have severely affected many veterans in their later years, impacting their quality of life and shortening their life span.