Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos was used on Navy ships in pipe insulation as well as fireproofing, floor tiles and other construction materials. It was also used in boilers, engines, ship engines as well as in aircraft and vehicle brakes, and clutches.
Service members who were exposed to asbestos settlement amounts at bases in the military could be suffering from mesothelioma or other health issues. This includes Army personnel, Air Force personnel and Marine Corps personnel.
Navy
Navy veterans were at the highest risk of asbestos exposure due to asbestos’s extensive use in ship and shipyard structures. Asbestos was also present in those who were involved in the construction, repair, or demolishment of naval vessels as well as on ships.
Asbestos was utilized in the construction of Navy ships because it could be used to protect against heat, water and fire. It was utilized throughout the engine rooms, hulls boiler rooms, and other mechanical areas on Navy ships. It also was used in plumbing fixtures, adhesives, industrial compounds, and cabin insulation.
Because of these uses, many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma after working on or around ships. This includes those who were laggers on Navy ships (insulators), the machinists’ mates who repaired engine components and machinery containing asbestos-containing packing, as well being damage control workers who are responsible for rescue and firefighting in the event of a hostile attack.
Furthermore, those who served in the Coast Guard face exposure risks because the military’s ships often included asbestos. This was mainly because asbestos was a cost-effective and fireproof material that protected against the cold and heat. It was used on a variety of the Navy’s ships and various military’s vehicles, aircrafts and barracks.
Asbestos veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can apply for compensation from the VA through their disability compensation system. However an asbestos exposure summary is required to prove that the condition was related to military service. This includes when and where the veteran was exposed as well as what specific roles he or she served in. It is also necessary to prove that at least 50% of the veteran’s asbestos exposure occurred during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, a mineral of natural origin, has distinctive properties that make it useful in military construction projects. It is resistant to fire as well as heat, electricity, and chemical corrosion resistant, and extremely affordable to purchase and use. It was utilized in the military from 1940 until the late 1990s. This led to a high rate of asbestos exposure for veterans from all branches. Air Force veterans who served during this time are at greater risk of developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military, constructed bases using asbestos-containing material. The toxic material was commonly used in boilers, pipes, and Risk of asbestos exposure other insulation products throughout bases. This exposed airmen to asbestos while they lived in or visited bases including hospitals, mess halls, and shop areas. Asbestos is a fine and scaly material, so the dust that results could be carried from one location to another by people coming and going on base. Personnel like mechanics, electricians and custodians are able to carry asbestos fibers on their clothing and hair from one place to another.
Airmen who worked on aircraft, such as welders and mechanics, were at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause damage to the lung’s tissues, which can result in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lung’s lining and chest cavity, and can cause serious complications and symptoms.
To learn about their rights under the law, asbestos victims should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can help the family of a veteran file a lawsuit against the manufacturers who produced and sold the harmful products that exposed them to mesothelioma. These lawsuits seek to compensate companies that put profits ahead of safety.
Army
Veterans of the Army who served between World War II and the 1970s might have been exposed to asbestos during their military service. Both women and men are at risk of developing mesothelioma that is aggressive and other asbestos-related ailments later in life.
Soldiers might have been exposed to asbestos in barracks, bases and ships that contained asbestos. Asbestos is a fire-resistant and long-lasting building material, was popular at the time. It was also affordable.
The Army used asbestos in a range of products like pipe insulation, fireproofing sprays and flooring materials. The asbestos products were used to build and repair various types of vehicles and equipment including ships, tanks, and cars.
Asbestos-related illnesses take decades to develop, which is why many veterans were diagnosed long after their active military service. During wartime, troops deployed to combat zones faced additional asbestos exposure risk. These areas often had structures built with asbestos that were bombed or destroyed in order to release the harmful fibers into the air. This type of exposure took place at bases in the United States as well as ports and other locations overseas.
Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses caused by their military service, are entitled to file an VA disability claim. The amount of compensation is determined by the severity of the condition, and the amount of asbestos exposure that he or she received while a member of the military. However the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide compensation to veterans suffering from mesothelioma in cases where it is not directly related to their military service. Instead, the agency provides monthly payments to veterans who meet the disability requirements. The money is used to pay for medical bills, living expenses and other expenses associated with the illness.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos via military vehicles, ships, risk of asbestos exposure bases and aircraft. Marine vehicle mechanics and those who worked on transport vehicles, such as the M60 Patton Tank, were at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure. These veterans were often exposed to asbestos seals, gaskets and brake pads on vehicles. When these materials became degraded or became damaged, they would release asbestos fibers into the air. The fibers could be breathed in by people living in the area and lead to the development of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s also faced the risk of exposure. Asbestos was utilized in Navy ship parts such as incinerators, boilers and engines to guard them from fire and extreme heat. These parts usually had poor ventilation, so asbestos fibers would circulate through the ship’s compartments. If the insulation degraded or wore out it would release fibers into the air. Air force veterans could be at risk of being exposed. Asbestos insulated military aircraft and was found in rotors, engine parts fuel systems, hydraulic systems.
In 1994 the Marine Corps implemented an OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program. Prior to 1994, asbestos was removed in hundreds of Marine base facilities and barracks, as well as mechanical shops. This was usually done by untrained teams comprised of enlisted soldiers.
Asbestos exposure in Marines can result in a variety of serious health issues, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. Veterans diagnosed with these illnesses need to seek out specialized treatment at a VA hospital or one of the top mesothelioma clinics. It is crucial to be aware that mesothelioma and the other asbestos lawsuit settlement amounts-related illnesses have long period of latency. This means that symptoms do not generally show up until a long time after the initial exposure to asbestos lawsuit.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was utilized throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and fireproof vessels. Veterans of the Coast Guard who worked at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard are at a greater risk of exposure to asbestos. The yard was home to more than 100 asbestos-contaminated shipbuilding and repair buildings, including barracks, a hangar and an engine shop. Asbestos was also found in the insulation, pipes and other building materials on many Coast Guard ships. Veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma asbestosis, and other respiratory diseases due to their long-term exposure to asbestos-containing toxic materials.
Similar to Navy and Air Force veterans, Coast Guard veterans may have been exposed to asbestos frequently in shipyards and on ships. They performed missions of search and rescue and defended the environment. They also protected U.S. coasts and waterways. It’s not surprising, given the branch’s responsibilities that asbestos was found on Coast Guard ships and military bases.
Coast Guard veterans are eligible for VA benefits to help pay for medical treatments if they suffer from an asbestos-related disease. Due to the long mesothelioma latency time it is crucial that victims receive a diagnosis as soon as possible.
Army veterans are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma as a result of their frequent exposure to aircrafts, military vehicles and barracks. Asbestos was an essential component of military equipment because it was affordable and offered insulation and fire resistance. After the 1980s, asbestos was banned for new uses. However asbestos-containing pipe insulation, cement sheets floor tiles, and roof tiles were still in hundreds of military areas. This “legacy asbestos” protected the risk for soldiers.
No matter what branch of the military veterans served in, they may be eligible for legal aid to obtain compensation from asbestos producers. Although nothing can erase a veteran’s mesothelioma but financial assistance can provide a sense of stability for families in need of help.