Navy Veterans at High Risk for Mesothelioma Cancer
By Katie Kelley
Jun 22, 2009
Between the early 1930s through the 1970s, hundreds of thousands of men and women served on U.S. Navy vessels, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Many, if not all of these vessels were contaminated with asbestos. Navy used a staggering number of asbestos-tainted products in all of its vessels, leading to high rates of asbestos exposure for the men and women serving on the contaminated ships. The problem was not isolated just to those serving on the ships; many more were exposed to harmful asbestos fibers while working in shipyards and serving aboard submarines.
While most military divisions utilized the dangerous substance mainly for insulation purposes, there are documented reports of more than 300 products containing asbestos primarily used by the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s. Every ship and shipyard built by the Navy before the mid-70s was fitted with numerous asbestos-containing materials.
These materials were widely used in the engine and boiler rooms, as well as other areas below deck for fire safety purposes. Navy servicemen who worked below deck generally had higher rates of exposure to …show more content…
Additionally, Navy veterans account for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer. Though such a large percentage of mesothelioma victims are veterans, very few of them are able to pursue legal action against the government. By law, veterans are prohibited to seek compensation from the U.S. government through the court system. Though they are allowed to apply for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits for asbestos-related diseases, a veteran must provide undeniable proof that their disease is both asbestos-related and that exposure occurred during military service. If they cannot prove their asbestos exposure was isolated to military service, they are advised to seek compensation from asbestos
By Katie Kelley
Jun 22, 2009
Between the early 1930s through the 1970s, hundreds of thousands of men and women served on U.S. Navy vessels, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Many, if not all of these vessels were contaminated with asbestos. Navy used a staggering number of asbestos-tainted products in all of its vessels, leading to high rates of asbestos exposure for the men and women serving on the contaminated ships. The problem was not isolated just to those serving on the ships; many more were exposed to harmful asbestos fibers while working in shipyards and serving aboard submarines.
While most military divisions utilized the dangerous substance mainly for insulation purposes, there are documented reports of more than 300 products containing asbestos primarily used by the Navy from the 1930s through the 1970s. Every ship and shipyard built by the Navy before the mid-70s was fitted with numerous asbestos-containing materials.
These materials were widely used in the engine and boiler rooms, as well as other areas below deck for fire safety purposes. Navy servicemen who worked below deck generally had higher rates of exposure to …show more content…
Additionally, Navy veterans account for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer. Though such a large percentage of mesothelioma victims are veterans, very few of them are able to pursue legal action against the government. By law, veterans are prohibited to seek compensation from the U.S. government through the court system. Though they are allowed to apply for Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits for asbestos-related diseases, a veteran must provide undeniable proof that their disease is both asbestos-related and that exposure occurred during military service. If they cannot prove their asbestos exposure was isolated to military service, they are advised to seek compensation from asbestos