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Mesothelioma in US States

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Navy veterans and Mesothelioma

Catherine A. Murphy

Asbestos was extensively used in Navy which led to its excessive exposure to millions of Navy veterans resulting in them developing the deadly disease of mesothelioma. Asbestos was used in abundance throughout the 20th century due to it being a good insulation for heat producing products in warships. It could resist corrosion as well as withstand extreme heat.

During World War II and Cold War, a lot of asbestos was used in shipyards for getting new ships and in products on U.S. Navy ships. During this period, thousands of sailors and shipyard workers were exposed to this cancerous product by inhaling its minute fibers. Statistics indicate that this led to so many Navy veterans developing mesothelioma that it was considered as working in a U.S. Navy ship during the period of World War II was as dangerous as getting killed in a war.

According to the statistics, while over 16.1 million Americans fought for the U.S.A. during World War II and about 18 per 1000 died due to the war and during the same time, about 4.3 million Americans worked in shipyards and 14 per 1000 shipyard employees 14 died from mesothelioma. This number does not include those who died from asbestosis. Some of the common jobs in the Navy which was considered to be high risk ones for asbestos exposure are gunner, seabee, fireman, boiler tender, boilerman, engine mechanic and shipfitter.

The highest fatality rate was seen in those working with submarines especially submarine builders. This was however found out after about thirty to forty years due to the long latency period of mesothelioma. Apart from those getting affected due to asbestos exposure during World War II, about 79 percent of shipyard workers in the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth were also affected due to mesothelioma according to the medical survey conducted in 1984. Their family members especially their wives were also affected indirectly.

Efforts by the government to reduce mesothelioma cases among Navy Veterans

Documents are available with the government which indicates that in spite of being aware that asbestos can cause cancer, many asbestos manufacturing industries tried to conceal to their workers which has led to them developing the disease. Federal health officials like Navy doctors and government health experts have diagnosed many workers having this deadly disease. Likewise, the Navy even made it public through a medical bulletin that list of occupations which can cause mesothelioma due to excessive exposure to asbestos. They even suggested that these workers should use respirators in their workplace to avoid inhaling of the tiny fibers.

The Navy even issued a document called Minimum Requirements for Safety and Industrial Health in Contract Shipyards to build awareness about the disease and the precautions to be taken by the shipbuilding companies and the standards included guidelines in yards which built Navy ships for all activities involving usage of asbestos, proper ventilation of dusty areas and wearing of respirators by all workers working in the yard and conducting their regular medical tests. However, during World War II these standards were ignored by Navy in order to increase production level risking the lives of hundreds of thousands of workers. This led to many navy veterans being diagnosed with mesothelioma even 30-40 years after they served their country.

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