Mesothelioma and Marine Veterans

The United States Marine Corp veterans are discovering that the ships, airplanes and armored vehicles that were part of their training - and often transported them into combat - also exposed them to toxic asbestos fibers and the threat of mesothelioma. They may have been regarded as the most highly-trained, best-prepared fighters in the world, well aware of the dangers that an enemy presents, but they didn't know about the dangers from within.

More and more veterans are learning now, long after leaving the service, about pleural mesothelioma, a slow-developing form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is caused almost exclusively by the inhalation of asbestos. An estimated 30 percent of all mesothelioma cases today - there are 2,000 to 3,000 diagnosed every year in the United States - are being traced to military service. Virtually all of them are traced to asbestos.

Although the long-term health hazards of asbestos were known a long time ago, those same hazards were conveniently overlooked because of the overwhelming demand for the heat and fire resistant qualities that this mineral possessed. From the 1930s until the '70s, asbestos products were being used in every branch of the military. Although mesothelioma cases are most prevalent among Navy veterans - asbestos was used everywhere in shipbuilding - Marines often were exposed to the same dangers.

Marine veterans can take proactive measures by learning more about the potential sources of asbestos exposure and knowing the symptoms to watch out for. If you'd like to learn more about asbestos exposure risks for Marines, the symptoms to look out for, or would like help with filing a VA claim, contact the Mesothelioma Center's Veterans Assistance Program. The program's veteran benefits counselors can help asbestos-affected vets understand their options and will clear up any confusion you may have with asbestos exposure or filing a VA claim.

Marines Exposed to Asbestos on Ships

The amphibious nature of the Marines, often part of and supported by the Navy, left the Marines vulnerable to a different kind of attack. A Marine on a ship could not prevent the danger of asbestos. There are no concrete statistics to determine just how many Marine Corp veterans have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, but anyone who spent a significant among of time at sea was vulnerable. According to the Unites States Department of Veterans Affairs, there are more than 25 million living veterans today who've spent time in one of the armed forces.

From World War II through the Vietnam War, Marines were transported on Navy ships, where the use of asbestos was mandated. Often poor ventilation and the abundance of asbestos exposed both sailors and Marines. Asbestos was in the dining and sleeping quarters. It was in the engine and boilers rooms and around pipes as insulation. Asbestos was so prevalent that it was even found in the cables, gaskets and valves throughout the ships.

Marines Exposed on Land

On land, asbestos was a part of every military installation, found in countless construction products like the flooring tiles, ceiling and roofing materials, insulation and other products used to resist heat. Military vehicles had asbestos in the brakes, gaskets and engines parts. The dangers of asbestos became indisputable by the mid-'70s, and the military banned its use in new construction, but many of the ships and support vehicles remained in service for many more years.

Enlisted men also were part of the removal of asbestos, which became even more dangerous without the proper precautions being taken. Because the latency period of mesothelioma can be anywhere from 20 to 50 years after exposure, many Marine Corps veterans are just now seeing the symptoms that include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and persistent chest pain.

Although the United States military cannot be held responsible, veterans who were exposed to asbestos can hold the companies responsible who produced the products that were used on the ships. If you believe you developed mesothelioma from time spent in the Marine Corps, fill out the form on this page to receive more information from our Veterans Assistance Program.