U.S. Navy Workers – Mesothelioma Risks

The U.S. Navy is made up of three main components, including the Navy Department, the Marine Corps and the U.S. Coast Guard. Today, the Navy operates under the following mission statement: “The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.”

While serving in this branch of the military prior to the 1980s, members of the Navy may have been exposed to asbestos. Beginning in the 1930s, the Navy mandated the use of asbestos aboard its vessels due to the material's superb fire-resistant qualities.

Asbestos Exposure Locations for Navy Workers

In addition to being used for fireproofing, asbestos was utilized as an insulating material. Asbestos insulation was located all throughout Navy vessels in a variety of ways, but primary locations for its use included boiler rooms, engine rooms, mess halls and sleeping quarters. Piping insulation in these areas was especially likely to contain asbestos. Statements from sailors whose bunks were located beneath asbestos-covered pipes indicate the prevalence and hazard of asbestos dust while on board. The lack of adequate ventilation was often a factor that led to ship-wide exposure.

Because many naval bases and facilities were built before asbestos regulations became implemented in the 1970s, even land-based buildings may contain asbestos. A number of buildings on active and decommissioned bases and shipyards used asbestos-containing products for a variety of purposes. Working at a desk near crumbling sheetrock or peeling insulation could even expose an office worker to asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set up Superfund sites at a number of former and current naval facilities as a result of asbestos hazards.

Former Navy workers who performed ship construction, demolition and renovation were especially at risk of asbestos exposure. Even those who did not directly work with asbestos-containing products faced exposure risks because airborne asbestos fibers can travel and remain in the air for long periods of time. After asbestos regulations were implemented, older ships still contained large quantities of asbestos and presented exposure risks for workers and sailors.

Navy veterans and shipyard workers were rarely provided with adequate protective gear to prevent asbestos exposure. Additionally, these workers were not made aware of the health risks associated with working around asbestos. If you were exposed to asbestos while serving in the Navy, consider having annual health screenings to check for signs of an asbestos-related disease. Such health conditions can take up to 50 years to arise from the time of exposure.

Resources for Navy Workers

Prior to the EPA regulating the use of asbestos, the Navy used the toxic mineral in hundreds of applications for shipbuilding. Many former Navy veterans who served on ships or worked in shipyards have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma is a condition that primarily affects the lungs and symptoms include coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Veterans with an Asbestos-Related Disease

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related condition, our Veterans Assistance Department can answer any questions you might have regarding benefits. We understand the seriousness of your concern and want to assist you as soon as possible.

While we are continuously updating and adding to our list of U.S. vessels, visit our ships section to see if a former vessel you served on or worked on has been added to the listing.