Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is a component used in the construction of Navy ships for pipe insulation, fireproofing, and floor tiles. It was also used in boilers, engines for ships, vehicle and aircraft brakes and clutches.
Service members who were exposed to asbestos in bases in the military could develop mesothelioma and other health issues. They include Army, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
Navy veterans faced the most risk of asbestos exposure due to asbestos's extensive use in ship and shipyard structures. Asbestos was also present in those involved in the construction, repair, or demolishment of naval vessels, as well as on vessels.
Asbestos was a component used in the construction of Navy ships due to the fact that it could be used to protect against water, heat and fire. It was employed in the hull of Navy ships as well as in boiler rooms, engine rooms and other mechanical areas. It was also used in adhesives, industrial compound, cabin insulation, and plumbing fixtures.
Because of these uses, many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma after working on or around ships. This includes those who were employed as laggers (insulators) on Navy ships, machinist's mates who fix engines and equipment that contained asbestos packing, and damage control workers who perform rescue and firefighting duties in the event of an attack by an enemy. attack.
In addition, those who worked in the Coast Guard face exposure risks because the military's ships often included asbestos. This was mainly because asbestos was a cost-effective, fireproof material that protected against the elements of heat and cold. It was used in numerous Navy ships and a variety military aircrafts, vehicles, and barracks.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma may be eligible for compensation through the VA's disability compensation system. To prove that the condition is due to military service, a written account of exposure to asbestos must be provided. This includes when and where the veteran was exposed asbestos, and the specific role they served in. It should also prove that at least 50% of the exposure to asbestos was during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, which is a mineral of natural origin, has unique properties that make it a valuable resource in military construction projects. It is fire resistant, heat, electricity and chemical corrosion resistant and very inexpensive to buy and use. It was employed in the military from 1940 until the late 1990s. In the process, veterans from all branches of the military were exposed asbestos at high levels. Air Force veterans who served during this time are particularly susceptible to developing an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military built its bases using asbestos-containing materials. The toxic material was used in pipes and boilers along with other insulation products, throughout bases. Airmen were exposed to asbestos in bases like hospitals, mess rooms, and even shops. Asbestos is a very fine and scaly material, so the dust it produces could be carried from one area to another by those coming and going on base. Personnel such as mechanics electricians and custodians could easily carry asbestos fibers on their clothes and hair from one location to another.
Mechanical workers, welders and other airmen who work on aircraft are also at risk of exposure to asbestos. Inhaling the fibers could cause damage to the lungs' tissues, which can cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lung's lining and chest cavity, which can result in serious complications and symptoms.
To learn about their rights under the law, asbestos victims should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can assist the veteran, or their family, in bringing an action against companies that sold toxic products which exposed them to mesothelioma. The lawsuits seek compensation from companies that prioritized profits over safety.
Army
Asbest was likely employed by veterans of the Army who served from World War II to the 1970s. Both women and men are at risk for developing mesothelioma that is aggressive or other asbestos-related illnesses later in life.
Soldiers might have been exposed to asbestos in barracks, bases and ships that contained the material. Asbestos was a very popular building material at the time because it was fire-resistant and durable. It was also affordable.
The Army made use of asbestos to create a variety of products such as pipe insulation, spray-on fireproofing, and flooring materials. Those products were used to build and repair a variety of vehicles and equipment including tanks, ships and automobiles.
Asbestos-related diseases can take years to develop. Many veterans were diagnosed years after their active service. During wartime, troops in combat zones were exposed to further asbestos-related risks. These locations often had buildings constructed with asbestos that were bombed or destroyed, releasing the 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 diagnosed with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service, have the right to file a VA disability claim. The amount of compensation is contingent on the degree of the health condition and the amount they were exposed to asbestos as a member of the military. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not pay mesothelioma patients if it was not directly connected to their military service. Instead, the agency provides monthly payments to veterans who qualify based on the standards for disability set by the agency. The money can be used to pay medical expenses, living expenses and other expenses related to the disease.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos via military ships, vehicles bases, 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. They were frequently exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets, seals and brake pads on vehicles. Asbestos fibers were released into air as the materials began to degrade. Inhaling the fibers could cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s were also at risk of exposure. Asbestos was commonly employed in Navy ship components, such as incinerators and boilers to protect them from fire and excessive heat. Asbestos fibers could circulate in the ship's compartments because these parts had poor ventilation. When the insulation deteriorated or wore away it would release fibers 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 engine parts, rotors fuel systems, and hydraulic systems.
In 1994, Marine Corps introduced an asbestos safety program that was OSHA compliant. However, prior to that, there were hundreds of Marine base facilities, barracks and mechanical shops where asbestos removal haphazardly performed. It was usually done by untrained teams of soldiers.
Asbestos exposure in Marines can result in various serious health conditions including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Patients suffering from these diseases are advised to seek out specialized medical attention at a VA Hospital or top mesothelioma treatment facilities. It is crucial to be aware that mesothelioma and the other asbestos-related diseases have long latency periods. This means that symptoms don't generally show up until a long time after initial exposure.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was used throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and make vessels fireproof. Veterans of the Coast Guard who worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard are at a higher 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 was also found in the piping and insulation of a number of Coast Guard vessels. These veterans are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases due to their long-term exposure to toxic asbestos-containing materials.
As with the Navy and Air Force, Coast Guard veterans may have had to endure regular exposure to asbestos on vessels and in shipyards. They performed missions of search and rescue, and defended the environment. They also defended U.S. coasts and waterways. It's not a surprise, given the branch's responsibilities that asbestos was found on Coast Guard ships and military bases.
Coast Guard veterans are eligible for VA benefits to help pay for medical treatments if they develop an asbestos-related illness. It is crucial to identify mesothelioma early due to its long latency period.
Army veterans are at risk of mesothelioma due to their frequent exposure to military vehicles, aircrafts and barracks. Asbestos was a major element in military equipment since it was cheap and provided the properties of insulation and fire resistance. When asbestos-based products were prohibited in the 1980s, hundreds of military facilities remained covered with old asbestos in pipe insulation roof tiles, cement sheets and floor tile. This "legacy asbestos" protected the risk for soldiers.
Whatever branch of the military veterans were part of, they could be eligible for legal assistance to obtain compensation from asbestos producers. Although nothing can erase mesothelioma from a veteran, financial assistance can provide a sense of stability for families that are in a the midst military asbestos exposure of a crisis.