Veterans and Asbestos Exposure

 

Military servicemen and women deserve our respect. Sadly, though, many veterans were exposed to asbestos throughout their service to the United States. Asbestos was once utilized in many industries from construction to shipyards, although it is now mostly banned. This is because we finally realized the dangers of asbestos exposure. To fully understand the scope of asbestos usage, it is important to know why it became so popular. While asbestos was used by ancient Greeks and Romans, it fell into partial obscurity until the Industrial Revolution. With the advent of hot machinery and rise of electricity, people needed a substance that would insulate against heat and other such things. Asbestos fit that need. Asbestos is a mineral that is part of the silicate family. 

The silicates are known for their ability to insulate against different forces. As a silicate, asbestos is resistant to heat, flame, chemicals, electricity, and biodegradation. Additionally, asbestos has some useful characteristics of its own. It is flexible and has high tensile strength, which means that it is easily added to a number of different materials. Thus, it’s no surprise that asbestos found such large popularity with the rise of machinery. It found a niche in the construction industry, the automotive business, even the shipyards. It’s because of this last industry that people who served in the United States Navy were exposed to asbestos. Both people who built Navy ships and worked in Navy ships suffered from intense exposure from this material. Although we now know that this substance is a carcinogen, it was not something recognized by the U.S. armed forces for most of the 20th century. 

In fact, the government actually ordered

the use of asbestos throughout ships in order to protect the crewman from fires and other such accidents on board. However, instead of possibly suffering from burns or smoke inhalation, these servicemen and women are now at risk for serious cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer, among others. Due to the close quarters, poor ventilation, and other containment aspects of ships and submarines, it’s no wonder that asbestos in the air became such a problem. It is when asbestos becomes airborne that it becomes hazardous. From here, people can inhale the microscopic fibers that can become lodged in their lungs. Also, some people can get the fibers in their mouths, which they can then swallow.

Ingested fibers can become caught in the esophagus and stomach, contributing to cancers like that of the esophagus and throat. Unfortunately, many veterans do not have access to the healthcare that they need to treat asbestos-related diseases. However, the lawyers at Williams Kherkher are here to help. If you or someone you know are a veteran in need of asbestos-related healthcare, contact an attorney at Williams Kherkher today to fight for your rights.

Asbestos Exposure at the Boston Naval Shipyard

 

Located in Charlestown, Mass., the Charlestown Navy Yard was among the first shipbuilding sites in the nation. It operated from 1801 to 1974, and has been known as the Boston Naval Shipyard since 1945. Like many other shipyards across the country, the Boston Naval Shipyard used asbestos.

The Secretary of the Navy opened the shipyard to construct ships for the country’s defense and to repair those that had been damaged. The USS Independence was the first vessel built at the Boston Naval Shipyard, and many other Navy ships followed. Destroyers, submarines, destroyer escorts, barrack ships, tank landing ships and motor tugs were among the ships constructed at the Boston Naval Shipyard. The shipyard was also commonly used to repair and store ships.

The Boston Naval Shipyard was active during several different wars, including the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. During the Second World War, the shipyard employed a record-high 50,000 workers. This was mostly in response to an array of attacks from German submarines that destroyed and sank countless naval vessels.

Throughout its history, the Massachusetts shipyard employed a variety of workers including shipbuilders, plumbers, machinists, electricians, sail makers, blacksmiths and carpenters. Unfortunately, many of these workers may have been exposed to the toxic mineral asbestos. Asbestos refers to a group of six minerals that were widely used for their heat resistance and insulating properties. Because of this, asbestos was used in many industries, including shipbuilding, from the late 1800s until its ban in the late 1900s. When products containing asbestos are damaged or disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air and can be inhaled into the lungs. Eventually, these asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

The Boston Naval Shipyard used asbestos extensively during shipbuilding, particularly after it began utilizing steel and metal for hulls and various other parts. According to the U.S Navy, nearly 300 asbestos-containing products were used regularly in the shipbuilding process. Although the health effects of asbestos were recorded as early as the 1920s, those working with the mineral were unaware of its dangers until the mid to late 1900s. As a result, shipbuilders, Navy veterans and naval contractors, among others, may have been exposed to asbestos fibers in dangerous amounts. Although the Navy banned asbestos use in 1973, many workers had already been exposed to the harmful mineral.

In 1974, the Boston Naval Shipyard was closed down as part of a government cost-saving plan. As the dangers of asbestos became public in the 1970s, any asbestos products left behind at the shipyard had to be cleaned up and removed properly. Several acres of the Boston Naval Shipyard are now part of the Boston National Historical Park.

A mesothelioma law firm, The Shepard Law Firm represents mesothelioma victims and their families throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma, contact the mesothelioma attorneys at The Shepard Law Firm for a free legal consultation.

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