Terminal Island Naval Operating Base
Terminal Island is a man-made island that partially separates Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. In 1927, the island became home to Allen Field, a civilian airfield. The Navy eventually took over Allen Field and, in 1941, established the Long Beach Naval Station.
Combined with the airfield and the adjacent Long Beach Naval Shipyard, which opened in 1943, the facility became known as the Terminal Island Naval Operating Base. The shipyard facility located on the island was alternately referred to as Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Terminal Island Naval Shipyard.
As with most U.S. Navy shipyards, Long Beach Naval Shipyard reached its peak of productivity during World War II. During the war, more than 16,000 people were employed by the shipyard to repair, service and overhaul vessels that were damaged in combat or in need of routine maintenance. The yard serviced cruisers, destroyers, cargo ships, transports and tankers.
Terminal Island was comprised of more than 150 structures built on over 100 land acres. The facility was built to handle all of the Pacific Fleet's non-nuclear repair and maintenance needs, including rigging, electrical, structural, boiler and engine services. The fourth wave of the Navy's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program designated the shipyard for closure in 1994. The Long Beach Naval Shipyard and its associated housing were permanently shut down in September 1997.
Asbestos Exposure at Terminal Island Shipyard and Naval Operating Base
The Long Beach/Terminal Island Naval Shipyard was one of the busiest and most efficient of the U.S. Navy's repair facilities during World War II. Employing thousands of people over its operational period, the shipyard also repaired, overhauled and serviced thousands of ships.
With the widespread use of asbestos in naval vessels, many workers at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard were likely exposed to the substance and at risk for developing one of the serious illnesses related to asbestos exposure.
The shipyard is now a Superfund cleanup site as designated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many of the more than 100,000 individuals who worked at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard were likely exposed to a number of toxic materials, including asbestos. Prior to regulation of its use on jobsites and in the workplace in the late 20th century, asbestos was commonly used throughout the shipbuilding and repair industry.
The U.S. Navy typically included asbestos-containing products in the specifications for the vessels it built or contracted to have constructed. Even as the dangers of asbestos exposure became more widely known, the Navy was slow to provide safety gear, such as respirators and protective clothing, to its employees.
Exposure to asbestos at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard could have occurred during the repair of a vessel while the ship's close quarters prevent dispersion of airborne asbestos fibers. A potentially harmful disease could have developed as a result. When disturbed, asbestos fibers can be released from materials such as insulation, flooring tiles, gaskets, valves, ceiling panels and fireproofing.
Family members of shipyard workers were also susceptible to exposure from asbestos fibers carried home from the shipyard on clothing, skin and hair. Sailors stationed on ships during repair who moved through areas where asbestos had been disturbed may also have been exposed.
The risk of asbestos exposure was not confined to shipboard work. The age of many of the buildings and structures at the shipyard meant that asbestos was likely present in wall boards, flooring tiles and insulation. Office workers in areas where such materials were disturbed may have been exposed.
Resources for Shipyard Workers
Navy veterans and civilian employees of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on Terminal Island worked in an environment in which contact with asbestos and other hazardous materials was a common occurrence. People who may have been exposed to asbestos in any amount should consider speaking with their physician. Monitoring for signs of asbestos-related illnesses, such as asbestosis or cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer is important.
Patients who would like assistance finding a mesothelioma specialist can contact our Doctor Match Program. Those looking for additional reading materials on exposure, treatment and financial assistance options can request more information by filling out this form.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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