Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was utilized on Navy ships in pipe insulation as well as fireproofing, floor tiles and other construction materials. It also was a component in boilers and engines on ships and in aircraft and vehicle brakes and clutches.
Service members who were exposed to asbestos on bases for military may have developed mesothelioma or other health issues. They include Army, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
The most at-risk group was Navy veterans because of the widespread use of asbestos in ships and shipyards. The asbestos-infected included those working in the building and maintenance of naval ships and ships, as well as those who worked on day-to-day work on vessels.
Asbestos was one of the most popular materials for Navy ship construction since it was able to insulate against fire, heat and water. It was utilized in the hull of Navy ships as well as in engine rooms, boilers rooms and other mechanical spaces. It was also used for plumbing fixtures as well as adhesives, industrial compounds and cabin insulation.
Due to these uses, many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma as a result of working on or within ships. This includes those who were employed as laggers (insulators) on Navy ships and machinist's mates who repair engine components and machinery that had asbestos packing and damage control workers who carry out rescue and firefighting duties in the event of an enemy attack.
Asbest poses a threat for those who serve in the Coast Guard, as many of the ships used by the military have asbestos. This was due to the fact that asbestos was a cost-effective, fireproof material that insulated against the cold and heat. It was utilized on a number of the Navy's vessels as well as many of the military's vehicles, aircrafts and barracks.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma can apply for compensation through the VA's disability compensation system. To prove that the condition is due to military service, a detailed account of asbestos exposure needs to be submitted. This includes where and when the individual was exposed to asbestos and what specific roles they served in. It must also show that at least half of the exposure to asbestos occurred during their military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, a mineral that is of natural origin, has unique properties that make it useful in military construction projects. It is durable and fire-resistant, insulates from electrical and heat as well as chemical corrosion, and is very cheap to purchase and use. It was widely used in the military from 1940 until the 1990s. This led to high rates of exposure to asbestos among veterans in every branch. Air Force veterans who served during this time are particularly at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military built bases using asbestos-containing material. The noxious material was used in pipes and boilers, along with other insulation products throughout bases. Airmen were exposed to asbestos in bases such as hospitals, mess rooms, and shops. Asbestos is a very fine and scaly substance, which means the resulting dust could easily be transported from one place to another by those visiting and departing from bases. Electricians, mechanics, custodians and other employees could carry asbestos fibers in microscopic pieces from one area of the building to another on their clothes and in their hair.
Airmen who worked on aircraft including welders, mechanics, and mechanics, were also at a higher chance of exposure to asbestos. Inhaling the fibers could cause damage to the lungs' tissues which could cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lung's lining and chest cavity, and can result in serious complications and symptoms.
To know more about their rights under the law asbestos victims should speak to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can help a veteran or their family bring a lawsuit against manufacturers who manufactured and sold the toxic products that exposed them to mesothelioma. These lawsuits seek to recover compensation from companies who put profit over safety.
Army
Asbest was likely employed by soldiers who served from World War II to the 1970s. These men and women are at risk of developing aggressive forms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses late in life.
Soldiers might have been exposed to asbestos in bases, barracks and ships that contained the material. Asbestos, a non-flammable and durable building material was a popular choice at the time. It was also affordable.
Lawrence asbestos lawyers employed asbestos in a variety of products, such as pipe insulation, fireproofing sprays and flooring materials. These products were employed in the construction and repair of many kinds of vehicles, including tanks, ships, and automobiles.
Asbestos-related illnesses take decades to develop, so many veterans were diagnosed after their active military service. During war, soldiers in combat zones were exposed to further asbestos exposure risks. These areas often had structures made of asbestos, which were destroyed or bombed, releasing the toxic fibers into the air. This kind of exposure happened at bases in the United States as well as ports and other overseas locations.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service are entitled to submit an VA disability claim. Compensation varies depending on the degree of the health condition and the amount they were exposed to asbestos while being a military. However the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide compensation to veterans suffering from mesothelioma if it was not directly linked to their military service. Instead, the agency offers monthly payments for veterans who meet on the standards for disability set by the agency. The money is used to pay medical bills, living expenses and other expenses related to the disease.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos via military vehicles, ships bases, aircraft and even bases. Marine mechanics working on vehicles, as well as those who worked on transport vehicles, such as the M60 Patton Tank, were at the greatest risk of exposure to asbestos. They were frequently exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets, seals and brake pads on vehicles. Asbestos fibers were released into the air as the materials began to degrade. Inhaling the fibers could cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.
Navy veterans who served prior to the 1980s are also at risk. Asbestos was utilized in Navy ship components, such as boilers, incinerators and engines to shield them from fire and excessive heat. Asbestos fibres were able to circulate in the ship's compartments due to the lack of ventilation. If the insulation became degraded or wore out it would release fibers into the air. Veterans of the Air Force could be at risk of exposure. Asbestos was a component of military aircraft that was found in rotors, engine parts fuel systems, hydraulic systems.
In 1994, Marine Corps introduced an asbestos safety program that was OSHA compliant. Prior to that, there were hundreds of Marine base facilities, barracks and mechanical shops where asbestos removal haphazardly performed. It was typically done by untrained teams comprised of enlisted men.
Marines exposed to asbestos may develop serious health issues like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Patients suffering from these diseases are advised to seek specialist treatment at a VA Hospital or one of the top mesothelioma treatment centers. It is important to know that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have long time periods of latency. This means that symptoms usually do not appear until many decades after the initial exposure.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard used asbestos to insulate vessels and fireproof them. Veterans of the Coast Guard who worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard are at greater risk for asbestos exposure. 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 present in the insulation, piping and other building materials on numerous Coast Guard ships. These veterans are at high risk for developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases due to their long-term exposure to toxic asbestos-containing materials.
Like Navy and Air Force veterans, Coast Guard veterans could have been exposed to asbestos regularly in shipyards and on ships. These men and women carried out search and rescue missions, protected the environment, and protected U.S. coastlines and waterways. Due to the duties of the branch it's not surprising that asbestos was present on Coast Guard ships and at military bases.
Coast Guard veterans are eligible for VA benefits to help pay for medical treatments if they suffer from an asbestos-related disease. Due to the long mesothelioma latency time, it is important that victims receive a diagnosis as soon as possible.
Army veterans are at high risk of developing mesothelioma because of their frequent exposure to aircrafts, military vehicles and barracks. Asbestos was commonly used in military equipment because of its low cost, fire resistance and insulation properties. In the 1980s, asbestos was prohibited for use in new ways. However, asbestos-containing pipe insulation, cement sheets floor tiles, floor tiles and roof tiles remained in hundreds of military areas. This "legacy asbestos" kept asbestos in danger for soldiers.
Veterans may be entitled to legal assistance in order to seek compensation from asbestos producers, regardless of the field of service they served. While nothing can take away mesothelioma from a veteran, financial assistance can provide some semblance of stability for families that are in a the midst of a crisis.