Military Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is used in the construction of Navy ships for pipe insulation, fireproofing, and floor tiles. It was also used in ship engines, boilers brakes for aircraft and vehicle vehicles, and clutches.
They may have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another health problems. These veterans include Army, Air Force 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. The asbestos-infected included those who worked on the building, repair or demolition of naval vessels and ships, as well as those who performed day-to-day services on vessels.
Asbestos was used in the construction of Navy ships as it could be used to insulate against heat, water and fire. It was employed in the hulls of Navy ships as well as in engine rooms, boilers rooms and other mechanical areas. It was also used in industrial compound, cabin insulation and plumbing fixtures.
Due to these uses, many Navy veterans developed mesothelioma following working on or around ships. This includes those who were employed as laggers (insulators) on Navy ships and machinist's mates who repair engine components and machinery that contained asbestos packing, and damage control workers who carry out rescue and firefighting duties in the event of a hostile attack.
Furthermore, those who served in the Coast Guard face exposure risks since the ships of the military often incorporated asbestos. This was mainly because asbestos was a cost-effective and fireproof material that insulated against the heat and cold. It was used on a variety of the Navy's vessels as well as a variety of the military's aircrafts, vehicles and barracks.
Asbestos veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses can claim compensation from the VA through their disability compensation system. However, a written asbestos exposure summary is required to show how the condition was connected to military service. This includes the location and time the individual was exposed to asbestos and what specific roles they served in. It is also necessary to prove that at least half of the exposure to asbestos was during military service.
Air Force
Asbestos, a rock that is of natural origin, has unique properties that make it a valuable resource in military construction projects. It is resistant to fire and durable, insulates from electric and heat sources, as well as chemical corrosion, and is cheap to purchase and use. It was utilized throughout the military from 1940 until the 1990s. This resulted in high rates of exposure to asbestos for veterans from all branches. Air Force veterans who served during this time are especially susceptible to developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.
The Air Force, like other branches of the military, built bases with asbestos-containing materials. The toxic material was used in pipes and boilers along with other insulation products, throughout bases. This exposed airmen to asbestos while they lived in bases, or visited them, such as hospitals, mess halls, and shop areas. Asbestos is a brittle and scaly substance, so the resulting dust could easily be carried from one location to another by those visiting and departing from bases. Electricians, mechanics, custodians and other workers could carry microscopic asbestos fibers from one part of the building to another on their clothing and in their hair.
Airmen who worked on aircraft including welders, mechanics, and mechanics, were at a high chance of exposure to asbestos. Inhaling the fibers can cause damage to the lungs' tissues, which can result in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity, and can lead to serious symptoms and complications.
To understand their rights under the law asbestos victims should speak with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. A lawyer can assist the family of a veteran to file a lawsuit against manufacturers who made and sold the harmful products that led to their exposure to mesothelioma. The lawsuits seek compensation from companies who put profit over safety.
Army
Veterans of the Army who served between World War II and the 1970s may have been exposed to asbestos during their military service. They are at risk of developing aggressive forms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases later in life.
Soldiers may have been exposed asbestos in bases and barracks that contained the material. Asbestos, a non-flammable and durable building material, was popular at the time. It was also inexpensive.
The Army employed asbestos in a variety products like pipe insulation, fireproofing sprays and flooring materials. These products were used in the construction and repair of many kinds of vehicles, including ships, tanks and automobiles.
Asbestos-related illnesses can take a long time to develop. Many veterans were diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases many years after their active service. During wartime, troops in combat zones were exposed to further asbestos exposure risks. These locations often had buildings constructed with asbestos that were destroyed or bombed in order to release the harmful fibers into the air. This kind of exposure happened at bases in the United States as well as ports and other overseas locations.
Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases caused by their military service, have the right to make an VA disability claim. Compensation is based on the severity of the condition and the amount of asbestos exposure that he or she was exposed to as a military member. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide compensation to veterans suffering from mesothelioma if it was not directly related to their military service. Instead, the organization offers monthly compensation for veterans who meet on the established disability standards. The money can be used to pay for medical bills, living expenses and other expenses related to the illness.
Marines
Marines could have been exposed to asbestos on military vessels, ships, bases and aircraft. The ones who worked as Marine vehicle mechanics and on transport vehicles such as the M60 Patton tank ran the most risk of exposure. They were frequently exposed to asbestos gaskets, seals and brake pads on vehicles. Asbestos fibers were released into the air as these materials degraded. Inhaling the fibers could cause asbestos-related illnesses, such as mesothelioma.
Navy veterans who served before the 1980s also faced the risk of exposure. Asbestos was utilized in Navy ship components like boilers, incinerators and engines to protect them from fire and excessive heat. These components typically were not ventilated, and asbestos fibers would circulate through the compartments of the ship. As the insulation deteriorated, fibers would be released into the air. Veterans of the Air Force could also be exposed. Asbestos was used to insulate military aircraft and was also found in engine parts and rotors as well as fuel systems, hydraulic engines and fuel systems.
In 1994 in 1994, the Marine Corps implemented an OSHA-compatible asbestos safety program for asbestos. Prior to 1994 asbestos was removed from hundreds of Marine base facilities and barracks and mechanical shops. Kent asbestos attorney was usually done by untrained crews made up of enlisted soldiers.
Marines exposed to asbestos could develop serious health issues like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Veterans diagnosed with these illnesses should seek specialized treatment at a VA hospital or one of the best mesothelioma treatment centers. It is crucial to be aware that mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases have long period of latency. This means that symptoms do not usually appear until decades after the initial exposure.
Coast Guard
Asbestos was employed throughout the Coast Guard to insulate and fireproof vessels. Coast Guard veterans who served at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard were particularly susceptible to exposure. 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 discovered in the piping, insulation and other building materials found on numerous Coast Guard ships. These veterans are at high risk for developing mesothelioma, asbestosis and other respiratory illnesses because of their lengthy exposure to asbestos-containing toxic materials.
As with the Navy and Air Force veterans, Coast Guard veterans may have been exposed to asbestos frequently on ships and shipyards. These men and women carried out search and rescue missions, protected the environment, and defended U.S. coastlines and waterways. It is not surprising given the responsibilities of the branch that asbestos was discovered in Coast Guard ships and military bases.
Veterans of the Coast Guard are eligible for VA benefits that will aid in the cost of medical treatment in the event of asbestos-related diseases. Due to the lengthy latency period of mesothelioma it is essential that patients be diagnosed as quickly as they can.
Army veterans are at high risk of developing mesothelioma due to their frequent exposures to aircrafts, military vehicles and barracks. Asbestos was an essential element in military equipment since it was affordable and offered the properties of insulation and fire resistance. After new uses of asbestos were prohibited in the 1980s, hundreds of military zones remained with old asbestos in pipe insulation roof tiles, cement sheets, and floor tiles. This "legacy" asbestos preserved the danger to soldiers.
No matter what branch of the military veterans were part of, they could be eligible for legal aid to obtain compensation from asbestos producers. While nothing can take away mesothelioma from a veteran, financial assistance can provide some semblance of stability for families in need of help.