> Asbestos Exposure > Veterans & Mesothelioma

Enter your information to have a comprehensive mesothelioma packet delivered overnight, free of charge

Our staff of experienced Navy veterans can assist you with filing asbestos-related VA Claims and obtaining benefits.

Veterans & Pleural Mesothelioma

Because of its wondrous qualities – fire-resistance, indestructability and insulating properties – asbestos once was everywhere you turned in military life, in every branch of service. But because of its highly toxic dark side, asbestos also exposed hundreds of thousands of military veterans to the threat of mesothelioma cancer.

An estimated one-third of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States are traced to military service, and approximately 75 percent of veterans contracted pleural mesothelioma, a malignant cancer of the lining of the lung and chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, which enter the lungs and lodge themselves into the pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs. Over a long period of time – the latency period can be up to 50 years – the fibers cause changes in the pleural cells, which can become cancerous.

An early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is difficult because the first signs are often confused with those of other less-serious, more-common, respiratory conditions, even influenza or pneumonia. Extensive testing is required to confirm it. Symptoms often include a shortness of breath, a persistent cough, weight loss and vomiting.

If you'd like more information about mesothelioma, including how to find top doctors to diagnose and treat this rare cancer, request a complimentary mesothelioma informational packet.

Navy Veterans Have the Highest Risk

Although neither the U. S. Defense Department nor the Veterans Administration has shared exact statistics, it's believed that the Navy has been the biggest culprit among the military branches to expose veterans to asbestos.

From the 1930s through the '70s, U. S. ships and submarines were filled from one end to the other with asbestos products, perfect to make the vessels as fireproof as possible.

Even though the Surgeon General of the Navy discussed the "Hazards of Asbestosis" as early as 1939 and long-term health issues regarding asbestos were echoed through the next several decades, the need for the material outweighed the risks and the warnings.

It wasn't until the '70s – after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stepped up its regulation of the product – that the shipbuilding industry reduced the use of asbestos.

Medical records show that some veterans who worked in boiler rooms, engine rooms, storage rooms developed pleural mesothelioma. Those who handled the gaskets, valves and cables also were exposed. From navigational rooms to mess halls, the asbestos was used on the ships.

The Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard also used asbestos products extensively, leaving many who served in those branches vulnerable. At the highest risk were veterans who served between World War II and the Vietnam War. Some of those veterans are just now being diagnosed because of the latency period that can last up to 50 years. Veterans in the military beyond Vietnam were at risk because of machinery and products that were not replaced until many years later.

Asbestos Exposure in the Navy

In the past, shipyards were a place where exposure to asbestos was prevalent. Whether ships were being constructed, repaired or overhauled, such work would routinely cause asbestos fibers to become airborne where they could be inhaled. Once inhaled, the fibers could potentially attach to the lining of the lungs, eventually developing into pleural mesothelioma tumors later in life. In most cases, mesothelioma can take anywhere between 20 and 50 years to develop.

The slightest disturbance to asbestos-containing materials may have caused asbestos fibers to release into the air. Crew members aboard ships could have easily been exposed to asbestos through the normal wear and tear of materials on deck. Due to the microscopic size of the fibers, the risk for exposure may have last several days as airborne asbestos has to potential to remain floating for long periods of time.

Areas aboard ships that were common locations for asbestos-containing materials included boiler rooms, sleeping quarters and areas that required insulation such as piping and walls. Occupations within the shipyard industry that carried a higher risk of asbestos exposure included welders, painters, machinists and others who made repairs on board.

Even With Restricted Use of Asbestos, Vets Are Still Vulnerable

According to the War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, which is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, service members at risk for asbestos exposure include:

Navy veterans who served on ships whose keels were laid before 1983.
Navy personnel who worked below deck before the early 1990's.
Navy veterans who worked in ship yards from the 1930s through the 1990s.
Navy Seamen who were tasked with removing damaged asbestos lagging in engine rooms, and then used asbestos paste to re-wrap pipes.
Pipe fitters, welders, boiler operators, building renovation and demolition specialists who worked in any of the services before the mid-90s may have had exposure.

According to the War Related Illness & Injury Study Center, which is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, service members at risk for asbestos exposure include:

Navy veterans who served on ships whose keels were laid before 1983.
Navy personnel who worked below deck before the early 1990's.
Navy veterans who worked in ship yards from the 1930s through the 1990s.
Navy Seamen who were tasked with removing damaged asbestos lagging in engine rooms, and then used asbestos paste to re-wrap pipes.
Pipe fitters, welders, boiler operators, building renovation and demolition specialists who worked in any of the services before the mid-90s may have had exposure.

Veterans can apply for VA benefits for asbestos-related diseases, but they must be able to show that the condition was related to military service, or their claim may not be approved. Pleural mesothelioma is recognized as a service-connected medical condition.

Our Veteran's Assistance program can help filing a VA claim. We have an experienced staff that includes former Navy veterans who can help you navigate through the process.

Source

McCulloch, J. and Tweedale,G. (2011). Defending the Indefensible: The Global Asbestos Industry and its Fight for Survival. New York: Oxford University Press.
Public Health Department of Veterans Affairs. (2011). Exposure to Asbestos: A Resource for Veterans, Service Members, and their Families [Fact Sheet]. Retrieved from
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2001, October 21). Retrieved from http://www.va.gov/