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Asbestos Exposure on Navy Ships

During the early and mid-20th century, shipbuilders prized materials containing asbestos fibers because of their resistance to high temperatures. For decades, more than 300 parts and products containing asbestos were frequently used in naval ships and shipyards, a fact that put veterans at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma cancer.

Although the U.S. Navy banned the use of asbestos-laced materials in the mid-1970s, many ships still carry the carcinogenic mineral. Some naval yards reportedly still use the dangerous fibers if no alternative materials are available that offer the same heat resistance properties.

Asbestos in Navy Ships and Shipyards

Vessels in service to both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard contained asbestos-laced materials in nearly every vital component. The contamination was also limited to one specific class of vessel, as asbestos-containing materials could be found in the smallest patrol boats and frigates to the largest submarines, battleships and aircraft carriers. Auxiliary ships in both the Navy and Coast Guard, as well as "liberty" transport ships also contained high levels of asbestos throughout the vessel.

Decades later, tests conducted on older naval vessels showed that asbestos could be found in nearly every part of a ship, from boiler rooms to mess halls. Nearly every section of a ship where sailors and officers worked, ate, slept and spent down time contained asbestos. The glass-like asbestos fibers were a major ingredient in many important components of the ship, from pipe insulation to gaskets to epoxies and other adhesives. Even some bedding material contained asbestos as a fire retardant for mattresses.

Today, the U.S. Navy and civilian shipbuilders are limiting or eliminating the use of asbestos in important components. Shipbuilders and repair workers are also making efforts to eliminate any asbestos-containing materials found on current on older vessels.

However, there is still danger as long as there are any asbestos-containing parts on a ship. The danger comes when hazardous fibers become airborne and unprotected workers inhale them. As components in older ships becoming brittle over time, the concerns over airborne asbestos fibers make the task of removing the parts more dangerous and more expensive.

An analysis of historical records, U.S. Navy databases and journals from sailors and officers show the routine presence of asbestos in shipboard life. Scientific studies over the past 30 years have proved the dangers of asbestos exposure. Many veteran sailors and naval officers are reporting respiratory problems because of asbestos exposure. Shipyard workers who assembled the vessels are also reporting health issues like mesothelioma and asbestosis, which they attribute to their time working with asbestos-containing materials.

Veterans and Mesothelioma

The most serious disease related to asbestos exposure is pleural mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. When unprotected workers inhale the asbestos fibers, the fibers pass through the lungs and become embedded in the pleural mesothelium, a wall of tissue surrounding the lungs. Over the course of several decades, the fibers mutate the cells in the pleural mesothelium, turning the cells into malignant tumors. Patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma seldom live more than two years.

Many of the sailors, officers and shipyard workers and their families affected by asbestos exposure have sought legal counsel to determine if they can receive judgments or settlements from their employers. Many of these cases have been successful and have allowed those with asbestos-related diseases to recover medical expenses and lost wages.

Questions about Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma?

Do you have questions about exposure to asbestos and how it can cause mesothelioma or other diseases? Get the Mesothelioma Center's free informational packet. The packet is comprehensive in its coverage of asbestos related diseases

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