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Shipyards and Pleural Mesothelioma

Those who develop pleural mesothelioma were typically exposed to asbestos in an occupational setting where exposure was moderate to high and occurred repeatedly. Shipyards are one of the foremost occupational settings that are known for asbestos exposure. This is because the U.S. Armed Forces used asbestos in all of its divisions, but particularly in the Navy and among ships and shipyards.

Asbestos and Shipyards

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that works as a great fireproofing agent. Since fire safety is of utmost importance on any water vessel, asbestos was widely used on all ships constructed between World War I and the Korean War. It wasn’t until the 1980s that asbestos became more regulated, so any Navy veteran who served in a shipyard or aboard a vessel between WWI and the Korean War was at risk of asbestos exposure.

Shipbuilders who worked on the construction, renovation or demolition of naval vessels were especially at risk because their work involved the disturbance of asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos insulation was a primary source of asbestos exposure, as this toxic insulation could be found in boiler rooms, engine rooms, sleeping quarters, mess halls and various other regions of the ship.

In addition to the shipbuilders, the Navy crews of those ships and the longshoreman (those who were responsible for loading the ships) were also at risk of asbestos exposure. Prior to the 1980s, many longshoremen were likely loading bundles of asbestos-contaminated materials onto ships. The health risks associated with asbestos exposure were not explained to these workers and no special precautions were taken to prevent the inhalation of toxic asbestos fibers. As a result, many shipyard workers have developed pleural mesothelioma and a number of other asbestos-related illnesses.

A Mt. Sinai School of Medicine study reported that 86 percent of shipyard workers with 20 or more years of work experience went on to develop asbestos-related lung disease or lung cancer. Prevention is the best cure, so for those who have worked in shipyards, it is important to inform your physician of your potential asbestos exposure history. Regular asbestos screenings may help detect for early signs of pleural mesothelioma, which offers the best hope for a cure since treatments are more effective at early stages of cancer development.

PleuralMesothelioma.com offers free assistance to veterans filing a VA claim. Our Veterans Assistance Department has reliable experience in filing VA claims and we can help any veteran with pleural mesothelioma to acquire benefits from the VA. To speak with someone in our Veterans Assistance Department please call 1-800-615-2270 or simply fill out the form on this page to be contacted.